"Quiet" Russian Scholar

He is always a person who works quietly, shares quietly with everyone, but behind that silence is a passion for research that always burns brightly and spreads, a profound erudition, an effort to find new research, an enthusiastic, kind heart that always sympathizes with everyone.

For many generations of students, Mr. Pham Gia Lam has always been an example of striving to rise up, of the desire to acquire knowledge, to overcome seemingly insurmountable difficulties. He, like many other teachers of the same generation, went through the war years, left the lecture hall to go to the battlefield, then returned to books, struggled to face the difficulties of the subsidy period, faced the difficulties of the teaching profession,... The stories about those journeys are probably endless. But the stories he told about his learning and life experiences really helped me understand the Russian idioms that he often encouraged me with when I faced difficulties, when I complained about the hardships:Yes book in share/All Already will fine. That is the story of the unexpected difficulties that came when the professor was preparing to go to Russia for his doctoral studies: illness, difficulties encountered after the treatment period... That is the story of the arduous journey from Kharkov to Moscow to contact the council to defend his doctoral thesis when the professor in Khakov encountered internal problems in the early period.Perestroika. It is also a story of making a living as a translator during those very difficult days... I understand him not only through his stories but also through the process of working directly with him as a student, a researcher under his guidance, and a colleague in the same department as him.

Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Gia Lam

In 2005, when the theory of narratology was still unfamiliar to the Vietnamese research community, he guided me through my graduation thesis, using the light of narratology to illuminate the work of a 19th century Russian classical writer. Right from the beginning, he transferred to me documents on narratology that had just been published by a German scholar in English. I read, translated and asked my supervisor many questions, and he was always willing to answer all of them. After completing my graduation thesis, I also completed the Vietnamese translation of M. Jahn's work. He, amidst his numerous tasks (at that time he was the Permanent Vice Rector of the School), diligently proofread that translation. Over the years, we have been very happy that this translation has supported many graduate students, postgraduate students, students and researchers in their works. After that translation, the two of us continued with more difficult, "long" and heavier translations, both in English and Russian. He did not hesitate to proofread each page for me. I understood that proofreading the translation was essentially teaching me how to translate, learn foreign languages ​​and learn how to research. And signing a contract to translate documents was also a way for him to help me earn a small amount of money to cover my living expenses. After each translation was proofread by him, I learned many things about how to translate, how to use language, how to persevere in facing difficulties. And after each translation, he instilled in me a passion for exploring new horizons of knowledge. During the days when he was Vice Principal, the days when he was the "leader" of credit training, despite constant meetings and a very busy job, he still diligently and quietly spent time on his professional work. I continuously received from him the latest and most interesting documents in both English and Russian to support my research and teaching. He often gives me directions and suggestions to help me gradually overcome my difficulties and concerns in my research.

Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Gia Lam (far left) with teachers in the Department of Western Literature, Faculty of Literature

Many teachers and generations of students, when mentioning Mr. Pham Gia Lam, all shared that he was very serious (and strict), careful in his work and in his profession. But besides that, there is also the image of a teacher in everyday life: kind, simple, tolerant and standard. I was a student who was guided by him from my university days to his doctorate, and I am also a student who has been continuing his research and teaching work, so I have many opportunities to interact with him and his family. When I encountered difficulties, he and his teachers were and are always ready to share, always a peaceful place for me to seek. I cannot forget what he shared when he and his teachers talked to me during the time I had an accident and was taken home by them to take care of me: "If any young cadre were in the same situation as you, the teachers would be willing to help. The teachers, like you, have received a lot of sharing and help from previous generations of teachers". When young staff in the Faculty have concerns and difficulties in both professional and personal life and need his support, he always listens, shares and helps wholeheartedly. Talking with him, listening to his slow voice, listening to his stories that are both humorous, attractive and profound, everyone can feel the "Russian quality", kindness, closeness and erudition, depth of a researcher, a model teacher.

If we list Russian scholars who have been steadfast in Russian studies despite the many changes in the times, we cannot fail to mention Associate Professor Dr. Pham Gia Lam. He was trained at the doctoral level in Russia, and has taught and researched Russian literature for many years. Looking at his research works, we will certainly see a persistent, tireless and continuous process of searching, discovering, and finding new approaches to Russian culture and literature. His articles, such asChristian motifs in the novels “The Master” and “Margarita” by M.Bulgakov: Experiments in intertextual approach,Cultural signs in Natasha Rostova's dance (“War and Peace” by L.Tolstoy),Cultural interaction in the works of V.Nabokov”.... is not only an important reference source in the research and teaching of Russian literature but also articles that open up new approaches and apply new theories in literary research. In recent years, he has chaired a key topic on Russian Literature Abroad. It is also an opportunity for the Russian-Slav research group to demonstrate its work and contributions in research and teaching. This year, the book is quite large and elaborate.Russian Literature Abroad:Process – Characteristics – Reception, conveying the research results from that key topic to readers. At this time, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Gia Lam is attending a major international conference celebrating the 120th anniversary of S. Esenin's birth in Russia with a number of Vietnamese Russian scholars. He is both a Vietnamese scholar invited to participate in the subcommittee's direction and a participant in presenting a very interesting and engaging paper in Russian.Protests mechanical compound in protection composition Esenia there medicine news” (Intercultural communication issues in translating Esenin's poetry into Vietnamese). It can be said that the "leader" of the Russian studies group, through his own research, simplicity and moderation, inspired and instilled a passion for research in generations of students and colleagues.

Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Gia Lam on a business trip to Russia

Working and talking with him, I always remember the Russian proverb he told me during my official defense of my doctoral thesis: Тише едешь, дальше будешь/Silence will go far.