Nguyen Dinh Thi - "The boundless light of dawn"

Portraying a multifaceted portrait of a cultural leader and outstanding artist
Re-reading the familiar verses in the poem "Country" by poet Nguyen Dinh Thi, Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan - Party Secretary, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities shared that Nguyen Dinh Thi is very close to the Vietnamese people through his literary works, music, literary criticism theory... The scientific seminar Nguyen Dinh Thi - "Boundless Dawn" organized by the Faculty of Literature with the participation of scientists from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and many other prestigious research units is an opportunity for us to look back comprehensively on Nguyen Dinh Thi's contributions to the country's literature and art. The research results of the seminar will contribute to the scientific achievements of the university, enriching the tradition and legacy of generations of teachers and students from 80 years of tradition of the University to 30 years of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan - Party Secretary, Rector of University of Social Sciences and Humanities
Nguyen Dinh Thi (1924 - 2003) was from Hanoi but was born in Luang Prabang (Laos), then followed his parents back to Vietnam and went to school in Hanoi and Hai Phong. Since childhood, Nguyen Dinh Thi was famous for his intelligence, studying very well in all subjects, especially Philosophy. As a patriotic intellectual, joining the Viet Minh at the age of 17, he became a key cadre of the National Salvation Cultural Association (1943). He held many important positions in the Vietnam National Liberation Committee, and was a delegate to the first, second, and third National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
Nguyen Dinh Thi is an outstanding, talented and dedicated leader of the arts, holding high positions for 57 years. With his talent in organizing and leading the arts, his high personal prestige and his steadfast revolutionary stance, Nguyen Dinh Thi has made great contributions to the cause of building and developing Vietnamese culture and arts in modern times.
Nguyen Dinh Thi is present and warmly welcomed with many famous works in the fields of: music (Destroy the fascists, Hanoians); critical essays (Some literary issues, The work of a novelist); writing stories and novels (Shocking, On the banks of Lo river, Broken bank); poetry (The soldier, The poem Black Sea); Drama (Black deer, Dream)...
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pham Xuan Thach - Head of Literature Department, University of Social Sciences and Humanities
Associate Professor Dr. Pham Xuan Thach - Head of the Faculty of Literature said that the University of Social Sciences and Humanities is the first unit to organize a research seminar on Nguyen Dinh Thi, in conjunction with Hanoi's activities to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of poet, writer, playwright, and musician Nguyen Dinh Thi.
The seminar received nearly 20 presentations from scientific researchers and scholars with multi-faceted perspectives, reconstructing Nguyen Dinh Thi's portrait in all aspects and will be published as a scientific journal immediately after the seminar. The topics presented depicted a portrait of a talented Nguyen Dinh Thi, excellent in many fields, from general topics such as "Nguyen Dinh Thi - a pioneer artist on the literary front" (by Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Khanh Thanh), "Nguyen Dinh Thi or a position in the literary school, surveyed in the Literature Magazine in the period 1960 - 2004 (by Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Xuan Thach), "Nguyen Dinh Thi and the journey of literary innovation" (by Associate Professor, Dr. Ha Van Duc); to detailed aspects such as "Nguyen Dinh Thi and French literature" (by researcher Tran Hinh), "Nguyen Dinh Thi with Hanoi" (by Professor Ma Giang Lan); "Nguyen Dinh Thi's drama" (by Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Quang Long)...
Dr. Nguyen Thi Nam Hoang co-chaired the discussion session at the seminar.
Nguyen Dinh Thi - a pioneer artist on the art front
According to Associate Professor Dr. Tran Khanh Thanh - Vice Chairman of the Central Council for Literature and Art Theory, lecturer at the Faculty of Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Nguyen Dinh Thi is a political activist, an excellent cultural and artistic leader, but when mentioning him, people think of a multi-talented artist, always a pioneer in innovation, contributing to the modernization of Vietnamese literature and art since the August Revolution. He composed music, wrote poetry, novels, plays, critical essays, in every field he made great contributions, pioneering and boldly innovating.
Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Khanh Thanh affirmed: “With his diverse creative talents, poet, writer, playwright, and outstanding arts leader Nguyen Dinh Thi left us a great and rich cultural heritage. In many artistic fields, he left behind excellent works, with lasting vitality, and profound influence on the cultural and artistic life of our country.”
Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Khanh Thanh - Vice Chairman of the Central Council of Literature and Arts Theory
Recalling the special affection and achievements of Nguyen Dinh Thi associated with Hanoi, Professor Ma Giang Lan assessed that Nguyen Dinh Thi was attached to Hanoi through music, poetry, and literature. He was the crystallization of the common qualities of Hanoi people: intelligent, polite, talented, and elevated to a new level with a profound intellect and a sensitive heart full of compassion.
Nguyen Dinh Thi joined the revolution with a passionate love for his country and all the talented and romantic qualities of a young man from Hanoi. Hanoi was always in his heart and appeared in his excellent compositions such as the songs “Destroy the Fascists” and “Nguoi Hanoi” – songs that are forever imprinted in the souls and feelings of Hanoians in particular and Vietnamese people in general.
“From Nguyen Dinh Thi, we can think of other artists, writers, and poets: no matter where they were born or where they work, the spirit of their homeland is still a constant,” Professor Ma Giang Lan emphasized.
Professor Ma Jiang Lan talks at the seminar
Associate Professor Dr. Ha Van Duc - former Head of the Faculty of Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities affirmed that, to be fair and objective, not all of Nguyen Dinh Thi's innovative ideas about poetry and literary scripts were successful. However, what he has done for the development of Vietnamese literature is truly valuable and worthy of respect. Nguyen Dinh Thi is a writer who has spent his whole life struggling and contemplating to find new things, always conscious of exploring and creating in the content as well as the form of literature and art. In many aspects, he was a person ahead of his time, because that caused him to encounter many difficulties and obstacles.
“Today, looking back at Nguyen Dinh Thi's creative journey, his successes and contributions to the country's literature and art, we further affirm his position and role - a great and talented writer, a person who is always concerned with literary innovation and renewal”.
Associate Professor, Dr. Ha Van Duc - former Head of the Faculty of Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities presented a paper at the seminar.
Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Thanh Hung presented a paper on the topic "Poet Nguyen Dinh Thi and the "Dream" of the post-war period"
Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Quang Long - former Principal of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, lecturer of the Faculty of Literature, shares about Nguyen Dinh Thi's plays
Researcher Tran Hinh presented the paper "Nguyen Dinh Thi and French literature"
The dialogues in the poetic drama “The Dream” are the topic of discussion discussed by Dr. Do Thi Thu Huyen – Journal of Literary Theory and Criticism, Central Council of Literature and Art Theory at the seminar.
Scientists and lecturers of the Faculty of Literature took souvenir photos after the seminar.
The discussion ended but opened up many spaces for research and study of Nguyen Dinh Thi's great achievements in the fields of cultural and artistic life of the country, affirming his position as an outstandingly talented person of the 20th century.