Dual national doctor Do Van Khang

In some theoretical works on aesthetics, he often signed his name as Doctor of Two Nations Do Van Khang. He also explained that in his two doctorates, one was an Associate Doctor converted to Doctor of Vietnam, and the other was a Doctor of Russian Science. Someone said intimately: He should only keep one title, Doctor of Science. The story of two nations seems old-fashioned. He replied: “Why old-fashioned? Today there is the two-nation general Nguyen Son, and in the past there was the two-nation champion Mac Dinh Chi. Although I am small, the truth is that to achieve such results, I use appropriate language. It is natural, there are many words that are strange at first but then become familiar, such as ward, district, drinking… I am only afraid that the words contain fakes such as paper doctor, wooden doctor - quite common phenomena nowadays.

The academic path of Associate Professor of the Two Nations, Dr. Do Van Khang, was an arduous journey. According to the story, he was the son of a poor civil servant family in Hanoi. From a young age, Khang participated in neighborhood activities during the early revolutionary period. During the resistance war, he followed his family to Viet Bac and then worked as a worker for To Hieu Printing House - a branch of Tien Bo Printing House. Here, Do Van Khang first met famous writers he had long admired such as Xuan Dieu, To Hoai, Nguyen Hong. Once, I asked Mr. Xuan Dieu: "Mr. Khang - a teacher in my department - asked about your health. Mr. Khang used to be a worker at To Hieu Printing House in Viet Bac, often printing literary books and newspapers and had many times met you and talked to you." Mr. Xuan Dieu shook his head slightly as if to remember and said, "Mr. Khang! Mr. Khang! I remember, we used to call him the handsome little brother... For decades, he has been teaching at university, please send my congratulations."

After the resistance war against the French ended, Mr. Khang returned to Hanoi and continued to work as a worker for Tien Bo Printing House from 1954 to 1958. Within four years, he was elected twice as an Advanced Worker and Emulation Fighter and was selected to study.Complementary education for workers and farmers.Here, learning from teachers and friends, wisdom is quickly enlightened. Open schoolWorkers and farmers supplementary educationis an initiative of the Party and the State to create opportunities for children of workers and peasants who could not get a full education due to the war to develop their abilities. Mr. Khang said he learned quickly, taking accelerated courses: two classes a year, three classes in two years. Here, he met famous people such as Mr. Tran Xuan Gia, Nguyen Duy Quy, Chau Dinh Du. In his final year of studying foreign languages, Mr. Khang studied in the same class with Mr. Phan Van Khai, who later became Prime Minister. Both went to Russia, Mr. Khai went to Plekhanov School, while Mr. Khang went to Lomonossov University. From there, each person's path was different. In 1965, Mr. Khang worked at the University, first in the political department, then transferred to the Faculty of Philology, still following the path of Literary Theory and Aesthetics.

From then on, we got to know each other. Living in the evacuated countryside, he brought a small child with him, taking care of her food, accommodation and education. In the mountainous area, he often told stories about Russia: “I live in the beautiful sea of ​​Sochi, which belongs to the Black Sea, now part of Georgia, so I miss the sea very much. Every afternoon after work, I go to the sea to swim for hours without getting bored.” Khang is tall, strong, and has a beautiful figure. He was voted by his colleagues as one of the “four good” people, one of which is “grass carp breasts”. That grass carp must be a type of swimmer when it goes into the sea. He said: “I swim well, so a Russian man and woman and a girl sitting on the shore looked at me and discussed with each other. When we got to the shore, the mother and daughter came to see me: “You swim very well, my daughter also loves to swim, you must live in the dormitory of the school nearby. If you could teach her to swim in the afternoon, at this time, I would thank you.” I hesitated and then accepted. And so for nearly half a month, the swimmer gently taught his younger sister Nga how to swim. He happily said: "At the age of seventeen, she is so attached to the water." Happiness comes once, but for him, happiness probably does not come just once. Khang smiled and nodded: "There are still many secrets that I will gradually tell you."

Associate Professor, Doctor of Science, Meritorious Artist Do Van Khang

Returning to the Van Tho evacuation area and the difficult days, Mr. Khang lived and worked with outstanding literature teachers such as professors Hoang Xuan Nhi, Hoang Nhu Mai, Le Dinh Ky, Phan Cu De. Mr. Khang loved literature and was passionate about studying and researching in the literary field. As a bright student, he soon had a wealth of knowledge that could be applied and was preparing to become a PhD. I supported and enthusiastically helped him. His PhD thesis raised the issuezone theoryin literature. Regional theory has a practical basis, from economic regions, cultural regions to literary regions. Mr. Khang deeply examined literary regions associated with political, economic and cultural relations. There were inevitably shortcomings in literary knowledge, but his thoughts were bold, with many correct premonitions. Everyone gave suggestions and corrections and he successfully defended them. Mr. Khang was an active person, always absorbed in exploring and discovering, although his arguments were sometimes shaky. Do Van Khang did not stop, he applied to go to Russia to do a PhD. He received his associate doctorate in 1984 and applied to do a PhD within 4 or 5 years. He returned to his old school, his old teacher - Professor Op-xian-ni-cop. At this time, Russia had begun to have great movements. Cultural and artistic theories did not develop in one direction but in many directions and had many opposing opinions. The teacher was happy with his old student but said frankly: “Do you have any new theories or research? If not, then go home. I will give you six months to prepare and then come see me.” After several months of preparation, Do Van Khang brought the theory of aesthetic zones to present to the professor. He said: “I skillfully combined socialist reality with the theory of aesthetic zones, so the professor agreed and liked my theory of aesthetic zones.” The basis of the aesthetic zone isfield theoryvast in space and time, influencing many natural and social relationships. The field theory also influences love. He confided, “When I was young, any girl who got into my beauty school would have a hard time getting out. I finished and defended my PhD early and was awarded a year of travel. After half of the time, I ran out of money and thought about returning home.” Do Van Khang was an enthusiastic explorer. Many of his ideas came early and were not easily accepted. He proposed many issues that seemed far-fetched at times, but time supported him. During the period when there was a policy to change the national anthem, Do Van Khang eagerly participated in the contest. His lyrics were powerful but still general and conventional:

The country from Hung Vuong and Ho Chi Minh

Standing tall to welcome the East Sea wind

Sacred imprinted in our hearts

Forever for this country

A nation for generations

For independence, freedom and happiness

We go to the Soviet Union

Light up the heroic firestorm

Mr. Khang said that the music and lyrics were mine. I remember Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tan arranged and composed them for me. Mr. Tan praised that the composition was inspired, and if there was a brass band, it would be majestic. The song was a contest entry, but this contest story had no beginning or end, so the contest entry became a family song. Sometimes, he and his sons sang it loudly in the house. Do Van Khang and his grandchildren all loved music. The family had a musical atmosphere, like a small orchestra. Mr. Khang had a mandolin, and Khanh and Thao played the violin. He cared about the family and built a routine. At mealtimes, if his wife Thiep was away, her chair would be empty, and the children would not sit in the chair reserved for their mother. His children were successful and well-educated. The eldest daughter was the Dean of the University of Culture, and her husband was the Dean of the Institute of Religion. A small family had two Deans. He said: “My family knows how to do business so we focus on the children’s education. In the same cultural area, if there is a pen war, I have the children to support me”. His wife Thiep also strived to rise through the ranks from a girl from the countryside to the province to work as a worker, she studied two part-time degrees at the Polytechnic and then studied at Nguyen Ai Quoc School. As Secretary of the textile union and member of the Presidium of the Vietnam Women’s Union, she was elected to the 3rd National Assembly. Mr. Khang said that comrade Pham The Duyet said: “I was the one who discovered Thiep”. She had her own car and often went on business trips to the provinces, Mr. Khang often accompanied her. Mr. Khang said: “The car is beautiful and carries her husband, a doctor, a harmonious combination between science and government”. Wherever they went, they were received with luxury. Ms. Thiep talked about the movement, Mr. Khang talked about science. Dr. Khang talked about domestic and foreign literature. Some union officials were amazed and admired.

Photo: Jackie Chan

The family was happy and warm when suddenly Thiep fell seriously ill and passed away a few months later. The family was in pain and loss, Khang took care of the children. Time passed, the living had to live and find new joy. By chance, while teaching, Khang met Huong, a high school teacher. There was no love at first sight like when they were young, but their love was super fast. Khang confided to me: "God took away a virtuous wife from me, but he pitied me and gave me a young wife in return." When two people love each other, age is no obstacle... Huong is thirty-four years old, Khang is sixty-four, a thirty-year age difference. In a Middle Eastern country, the marriage law stipulates that the person who is at most 25 years younger can marry. In this country, Khang would have broken the law. In Vietnam, thirty years old is fine, as long as they are compatible. At present, it is like that, but talking about the future, if Professor Khang were ten years older, he would not be able to avoid hardship. But everything is still peaceful and happy. One day, Mr. Khang invited his friends to a party calledTen years of holding power.Ten years of maintaining the dictatorship, those who looked at him stayed away. God gave him excellent health. He grew a long beard, many of which were already white. Ms. Huong commented: "My husband looks old with a beard, but his soul and strength are still young". Someone curiously asked: "Mr. Khang must have asked for your permission to grow a beard?". "Yes, that is Mr. Khang's right, I just told him not to let it grow too long". From then on, Mr. Khang's beard was shorter and cut into a horizontal line, which looked beautiful and unique. He still taught Aesthetics regularly at the University of Fine Arts, University of Culture, Academy of Music, and School of Industrial Fine Arts..He jokingly said, “Some teachers taught with me but also got tired and gradually retired.” From a printers typesetter to a Doctor of Science, from a young revolutionary cadre through two resistance wars against the French, to 50 years in the Party, Professor Do Van Khang with a handsome, strong appearance, his heart is still as passionate as in the beginning.