Professor Dang Thai Mai - scientist and patriot

Between 1928 and 1978, Dang Thai Mai participated in and was assigned many important responsibilities in state agencies from their inception: he was a National Assembly delegate for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th terms; Minister of Education in the United Government (1946); Chairman of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Resistance Committee (1947-1948); President of the Vietnam Cultural Association (1948); Director of the Education Department of Inter-regional Zone IV (1950-1953); Head of the Faculty of Literature at the University of Pedagogy and the University of General Studies (1954-1960); Director of the Institute of Literature (1959-1976); President of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts (1957)... It can be said that throughout his life, Dang Thai Mai dedicated all his time and effort to the scientific and revolutionary cause of the country.

Professor Dang Thai Mai (1902-1984).

He was Minister of Education (1946-1947), Rector of the Faculty of Literature (1954-1956), Head of the Department of Literature, Hanoi University of General Education (1956-1960), and Director of the Institute of Literature (1960-1976).

Despite having to divide his time and energy among many tasks, as a leading expert in the field of social sciences and humanities research, for nearly 40 years, from the publication of his first articles in renowned newspapers such as Thanh Nghi, Tri Tan, and Van Moi (1940) until 1985, Dang Thai Mai left a valuable legacy for the field of social sciences and humanities research, including dozens of works and thousands of pages of valuable writings. Some of his most notable works include:Literary Theory(1944)Lu Xun(1944)Humanism during the Renaissance(1949)Lecture on the poem Chinh Phu Ngam (Lament of the Warrior's Wife)(1950)A Brief History of Modern Chinese Literature(1957)Vietnamese literature in the early 20th century(1961)Phan Boi Chau's literary works(1959)On the path of learning and research(3 volumes, 1959, 1965 & 1973)Dang Thai Mai Anthology(1978)Memoirs of Dang Thai Mai(1985)…

Professor Dang Thai Mai at the Asian-African Writers' Congress in Japan in 1962

He left behind many valuable works in various fields of social sciences, humanities, and culture. He was a patriotic politician, a multi-talented cultural activist, and a profound scholar of philology, history, and sociology.

Each of Dang Thai Mai's works, whether large or small, marks an important milestone in the formation and development of the field of linguistics and literature in our country. In terms of theory, the book...Literary TheoryAccording to many researchers, this work is considered the first Marxist literary theory study in a then-nascent academic environment like Vietnam. Looking at him, a man whose entire life was dedicated to the revolutionary cause of the country and the nation, one might think that his research works would be dry and "academic." But no, quite the opposite, the research writings of the patriotic revolutionary Dang Thai Mai are incredibly imaginative; imaginative yet still "academic and intellectual." Dang Thai Mai adopted a very modern approach to literature, even when Vietnamese researchers were still struggling to find their way.Lecture on the poem Chinh Phu Ngam (Lament of the Warrior's Wife)His works, published very early (1958), already had a "poetic approach," a modern research method that only began to be studied and applied by Vietnamese researchers later, around the 1980s. While learning new and "unusual" things from the West, this outstanding son of Nghe An province remained consistent and persistent in pursuing long-term topics imbued with his national spirit. (Three volumes)On the path of learning and researchIt is the "slow but uncompromising" search of a scholar who "loves truth and humanity";Vietnamese revolutionary literature and poetry in the early 20th century,The poetry and prose of Phan Boi Chau, A brief history of modern Chinese literature.Besides the beauty of intellect, it also reveals the admirable qualities of "a writer"; the sincere, honest, and humble notes inMemoirsPublished posthumously, these works vividly reflect the personality of Dang Thai Mai. Meanwhile, his body of research and his approach to Vietnamese literature and other major literary traditions around the world, such as French, English, German, Spanish, and Chinese literature, reveal the profound knowledge of a man who loved learning, was passionate about exploration, and was creative.

Professor Dang Thai Mai and Professor Tran Van Giau

It can be affirmed that the career, style, and personality of Dang Thai Mai are the culmination, convergence, and meeting of many cultures and styles: "a fortunate encounter of ancient and modern, of Asia and Europe, of Southern and Northern cultures." He understood and mastered Chinese and Eastern culture, but was also deeply imbued with "French influence," the essence of Western culture. He possessed the elegance and profoundness of an experienced researcher, yet also the passion and youthful energy of youth. Those close to him recount that in daily life, he was simple, approachable, and open. But it was also within this same person, when undertaking any task, that he was serious and enthusiastic. He had the profound depth of an Eastern person, and also the humor of a Western person. Associate Professor Dang Thi Hanh, one of his "beloved daughters," who also followed in her father's footsteps on the arduous and challenging path of scientific research, once recounted that in life and work, her father was serious, affectionate, and considerate. He always wholeheartedly helped his colleagues, especially the younger ones, inspiring in them a passion for discovery and creativity. She recalled an instance when she was focusing on completing her dissertation.Hugo's novelsSeeing her daughter constantly "busily working" with...Les Misérables, Notre Dame Cathedral, 93...once, he unexpectedly asked: "Son, is there no one left in French literature besides Hugo?" Actually, it wasn't because he didn't love Hugo (in the book...).Memoirs of Dang ThaiPublished after his death in 1985, Dang Thai Mai once recounted how fascinated and admired the French romantic writer he was! He was somewhat "impatient," seeing his daughter only reading Hugo, a writer from the 19th century, while humanity was about to enter the 21st century with so many pressing issues happening daily, right beside them. He feared his daughter would "fall behind."

Professor Dang Thai Mai and General Vo Nguyen Giap

Among Vietnamese intellectuals of the pioneering period, Dang Thai Mai can be considered a unique phenomenon. It is indeed difficult to categorize him into just one field: a patriotic and people-loving politician, a multi-talented cultural activist, a profound scholar of linguistics, history, and sociology, an exemplary educator, and an expert in Eastern (or Western) culture? Dang Thai Mai possessed all these qualities. And in every aspect of his personality, he is remembered by his contemporaries and posterity with respect, affection, and admiration. Although he did not work long at the Faculty of Linguistics, Hanoi University, the image, work style, and humble lifestyle of scholar and professor Dang Thai Mai continue to inspire admiration among many generations of teachers and students of the Faculty of Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi today. He passed away on September 25, 1984, amidst the sorrow of his family, relatives, friends, colleagues, comrades, and countless generations of students and readers. For all his contributions, Dang Thai Mai was awarded the Second Class Labor Medal, the Ho Chi Minh Medal (1982), the Ho Chi Minh Prize for Literature and Art (1996), and many other prestigious awards by the Party and the State. It can be affirmed that Professor Dang Thai Mai was truly a fervent patriot and a genuine scientist who made many contributions to the country.