(HanoiMoi) Beautiful memories with the students of Batch VIII (K8) and Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong

Beautiful memories with the K8 Literature class.

I was a student in the first cohort of Literature students at Hanoi University (1956-1959). After graduation, I was retained by the university as a lecturer in the Literature department.

In 1965, the Party and State decided to evacuate all universities to rural areas to avoid American pilots bombing our cadre training facilities.

In the summer of 1965, Professor Tran Huu Nghia and I were assigned by the Dean's Office of the Faculty of Literature to accompany the K8 class of students (1963-1967) to evacuate to Dai Tu district, Bac Thai province (now Thai Nguyen).

The K8 class of students was very large, with over 120 people, gathered from three sources: high school students; current officials sent to study to improve their qualifications; and the rest who had studied in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and returned to continue their studies in the country.

My students and I "set up camp" in Trang Duong hamlet, Van Tho commune, Dai Tu district. Every day, we had to climb a steep slope, which the students jokingly called the "breathless slope," because we were out of breath by the time we reached the top and had to sit down and rest for quite a while. We went into the forest to harvest wood, bamboo, and other materials to build the library, classrooms, faculty offices, and the kitchen for the K8 class...

The construction of the barracks for the K8, K9, K10, and K11 student classes proceeded very quickly and was completed soon in time for the start of the new academic year (1965-1966).

In addition to my teaching duties, I was also appointed as the Faculty Secretary (a title commonly used at the time - more accurately, the Head of the Faculty Office).

The K8 class of students is large in number and strong in quality because many officials have returned to study. They are experienced, skilled in mass mobilization work, and adept at organizing social and collective activities. Young people who came from high school participate in the Youth Union branch led by Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. This group is very enthusiastic and dynamic in participating in academic and extracurricular activities. Whenever I need to mobilize students to participate in local affairs, I usually rely mainly on this class.
 

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, during his tenure as Chairman of the National Assembly, visited faculty and students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) on November 16, 2010.. (Photo: Bui Tuan - VNU)

I remember in 1967, the Second Northern Vietnam Arts Festival took place in Hanoi. To participate in the festival, the Faculty of Literature launched its own arts festival (singing, acting), selecting the first-prize winning work to bring to Hanoi to participate in the national festival.

The K8 class of students formed an amateur drama group, led by Hoang Chuong. They chose the play "The Victors" by playwright Hoc Phi. The work praised the unwavering and indomitable spirit of the hero Nguyen Van Troi in the struggle against the US to save the country, a struggle of the people of the South. This play won first prize in the faculty's performance competition. Afterwards, I and Professor Bui Ngoc Trac were chosen by the faculty to accompany the K8 Literature drama group to Hanoi to participate in the Northern Vietnam Arts Festival.

We "mobilized" in Hanoi. The drama group's leaders managed to borrow the auditorium of the Ministry of Culture's School of Theoretical and Professional Studies on Duong Thanh Street, which had a large stage for rehearsals. They also invited author Hoc Phi and director Long Chuong to come every evening to watch and provide feedback to each actor, gradually improving the quality of each role and the overall appeal of the play. The drama group's leadership also contacted the Ministry of Culture to request permission to perform at the Grand Theatre, renting it for one evening to rehearse and familiarize ourselves with the stage.

Local performing arts groups participating in the festival were registered to perform at one of two venues: Hong Ha Theater on Duong Thanh Street; or the Grand Theater on Ngo Quyen Street. Most local groups registered to perform at Hong Ha Theater; very few "dared" to perform at the Grand Theater.

The K8 Literature Drama Team's leadership reported and invited the Board of Directors of the University to attend the team's performance. The university requested a dress rehearsal before the performance at the Grand Theatre. We were lent a hall near Hanoi Station by the General Department of Railways. Professor Nguy Nhu Kon Tum, the Rector, along with the Board of Directors and many faculty members of the university, attended. After watching, everyone praised the performance as captivating.

Then the official performance night arrived. The Grand Theatre hall was packed. After meticulous rehearsals by each actor, with enthusiastic guidance from author Hoc Phi and director Long Chuong, the performance of the Van K8 drama team received much encouraging applause from the audience.

At the end of the performance, after a long round of applause, Mr. Ha Huy Giap, Alternate Member of the Central Committee of the Party, went on stage to present flowers and kindly said: "You students from the Faculty of Literature are truly exceptional. Even as amateurs, your performance was excellent and very commendable."

Memories with Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong

My classmates from the K8 Literature class were as close as family. Later, every year the class held a reunion, and I and some of the teachers were often invited to join in the festivities. Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong, due to his busy schedule, only occasionally attended the reunions. I would like to share some fond memories of the K8 class, in which Mr. Trong was also present.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong poses for a photo with his teachers and classmates on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the K8 class's graduation.

At the 2016 reunion, Professor Nguyen Kim Dinh, former head of the Faculty, presented Mr. Trong with a pair of couplets:

Upholding righteousness, upholding integrity, and promoting Party discipline.
(Respecting integrity, valuing honesty, and reviving the Party's moral principles)

Show talent, show wisdom, win the hearts of the people.
(Highlighting talent, valuing intellectuals, and strengthening the people's loyalty)

Trọng replied to his teacher: "Thank you, teacher. This is a noble and extremely difficult task. But I will do my best to repay the trust and affection you have placed in me."

In 2018, the K8 Literature class held a reunion at the Vietnam Voice Radio headquarters at 58 Quan Su Street. Mr. Trong shared his feelings, saying: "Many decades have passed, but the friendship, camaraderie, fellowship, and teacher-student bond remain warm and pure. This is the most precious thing, something each of us has and will carry with us throughout our lives."

At lunchtime, I said to Mr. Trong: "Since you mentioned the word 'Love,' I'd like to share with you a poem in Sino-Vietnamese that I recently collected:

Everything in the world is but a fleeting illusion.(In this world, everything is insignificant and illusory.)

The heavenly tribulation leaves only a glimmer of love.(Thousands of lifetimes pass, only one thing remains, and that is love, love for life, love for humanity)

Trọng commented: "The poem is wonderful, teacher, it perfectly matches my thoughts and lifestyle."

Professor Nguyen Kim Dinh was absent from the K8 class reunion in 2022, so he asked me to pass on these two couplets to Mr. Trong:

Upholding the rule of law, punishing those who corrupt the nation (Above - upholding the rule of law, punishing those who are corrupting the nation)

Below - unite the hearts of the people, eliminate the bandits who harm the people.

I explained the meaning of the couplet and conveyed Professor Kim Dinh's praise for Mr. Trong, saying he was doing a great job and hoping he would continue to improve. The entire hall applauded in encouragement of Mr. Trong.

When Mr. Trong was the Secretary of the Hanoi City Party Committee, I published a book titled "Knowledge Linkage," edited by the French scholar Edgar Morin. The book compiled scientific papers from several renowned French intellectuals, opening up new directions for general education in France. I thought the book was very useful, so I personally went to the Hanoi City Party Committee Office at 4 Le Lai Street to give it to Mr. Trong.

I remember meeting Mr. Trong at the home of Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung (who was in the same K8 class as Mr. Trong) when he brought gifts to congratulate Mr. Hung's daughter on her wedding. Seeing me, Mr. Trong smiled and said, "I came to Mr. Hung's house to congratulate the couple because I'm busy and won't be able to attend the wedding." I was truly touched by the sincerity, simplicity, and naturalness of this high-ranking leader of the City Party Committee.

Now that you are gone, through these heartfelt words, I want to share beautiful memories with the K8 Literature class and with you. My heart is filled with sorrow and regret. I respectfully bid farewell to you, a great personality - Comrade General Secretary - "The Great Furnace Burner".

May the soul of our beloved brother soar gently on the wings of a crane, ascending to the realm of white clouds…

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