Remember your predecessor!

Having worked closely with Professor Nguy Nhu Kontum for over 20 years, Professor Phan Huu Dat (former Rector of Hanoi University) still feels nostalgic when recalling memories of his predecessor. In his memory, the first Rector of Hanoi University was a great intellectual with a patriotic heart and wholeheartedly dedicated to the country's science and education. He made significant contributions to building Hanoi University into a leading, prestigious university both domestically and internationally.

Professor Nguy Nhu Kontum (May 3, 1913 - March 28, 1991)

Professor Nguy Nhu Kontum was originally from Hue. His father was a civil servant in Kontum during the French colonial period. In his youth, Professor Nguy Nhu Kontum was very intelligent and academically gifted, earning a full scholarship to study at a university in Paris, becoming the first Vietnamese person to earn a Master's degree in Physics in France. In Paris, he became a student and worked in the laboratory of Mari Curie and Frédéric Joliot-Curie – two renowned French atomic physicists who had both received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Professor Nguy Nhu Kontum had such a promising start. But he chose a different path: returning to Vietnam and joining the revolutionary movement. From then on, his work and scientific career are forever recognized in a turbulent period of the country's history.

In 1941, Professor Nguy Nhu Kontum went to Hanoi to teach at Buoi School during the height of the Viet Minh anti-French movement nationwide. Following the success of the August Revolution in 1945, many intellectuals, students, and young people organized rallies in support of the revolution at the Indochina University Campus. At this time, Professor Nguy Nhu Kontum was the Director of the Indochina University Campus. He, along with many other professors, spoke out in unison in support of the Viet Minh. On August 23, 1945, Professor Nguy Nhu Kontum and other professors from Buoi School signed a telegram demanding Bao Dai's abdication and the handover of power to the Viet Minh to form a government. After the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, President Ho Chi Minh implemented policies to encourage, motivate, and unite intellectuals in building the fledgling government. At that time, Nguyen Nhu Kontum was a highly respected intellectual and a strong supporter of the revolution. Heeding President Ho Chi Minh's call, he dedicated his life and career to building the revolutionary science and education system.

On December 19, 1946, France launched an attack, and the resistance against the French began nationwide. In Hanoi, the revolutionary base had to move north, and later to the Nanning region in China. Among the senior intellectuals assigned to the Nanning educational complex to teach at the university level was Professor Nguy Nhu Kontum. Professor Kontum himself had previously held the position of Director of Secondary Education (under the Ministry of Education). He, along with many other intellectuals, braved the difficulties, packed their bags, left Hanoi, and ventured into the mountains and forests of Viet Bac to join the people in the resistance against the French.

Jackie Chan/USSH

Professor Phan Huu Dat. Hanoi, 2012.

After the victory at Dien Bien Phu, when Hanoi was liberated, the State restored the university system in the North, mainly in Hanoi. In 1956, President Ho Chi Minh, on behalf of the Government, signed a Decision to establish the first four universities of Vietnam: Hanoi University, National Economics University, Hanoi Pedagogical University, and Hanoi Medical University. Hanoi University was designated as a leading and key university of basic sciences. The question then arose: who would be the Rector of Hanoi University?

At that time, the professors of Hanoi University of Technology were all very famous and prestigious names in the scientific community, such as: in the social sciences, there were Professors Dang Thai Mai, Tran Duc Thao, Dao Duy Anh, Tran Van Giau...; in the natural sciences, there were prominent figures such as Professor Le Van Thiem and Professor Nguy Nhu Kontum... Ultimately, Professor Nguy Nhu Kontum, who was not a Party member, was chosen as Rector, and Professor Le Van Thiem as Vice-Rector. This was a decision that was "in line with the people's wishes" by President Ho Chi Minh at the time. And "leading" a group of brilliant but also highly individualistic scientists, right in the early stages of building the foundation of Hanoi University of Technology, Professor Kontum, with his prestige and ability, was able to unite these great intellectuals to work together to build a leading university with great prestige both domestically and internationally. In his highest leadership position, Professor Kontum's contributions for nearly 25 years, from the school's most difficult beginnings to laying the foundations for its sustainable and proper development, and reaping the rewards of his later achievements, are immense. In the history of Vietnamese education, he holds the longest tenure as Rector, and moreover, he was the Rector of a leading, fundamental university, a position of great importance in Vietnam's revolutionary education system. Professor Kontum was also chosen and appointed by President Ho Chi Minh. This alone demonstrates the intellect and stature of Professor Kontum!

Hanoi University of Technology developed under difficult circumstances due to the destructive war waged by the American invaders. The university had to evacuate to Bac Thai, Dai Tu, and Thai Nguyen. During the evacuation, all facilities, including the library and laboratories, had to be moved. At the evacuation site, the university relied on the local people for its training facilities. Faculty and students even participated with local militia and guerrillas in capturing American pilots… Upon returning to Hanoi, teaching and learning conditions were extremely difficult. In 1979, China deployed 600,000 troops to invade six border provinces of Vietnam. At that time, the entire Hanoi University of Technology was militarized and equipped into a regiment, called the Self-Defense Regiment. That regiment moved to build the Cau River defense line – a line dating back to the time of Ly Thuong Kiet's resistance against the Song army to protect Thang Long – to block the advance of China from the six border provinces towards the capital, Hanoi… During the period of Professor... Professor Kontum served as Rector, and the University also organized efforts to improve the quality of student recruitment during wartime. The University of Technology was assigned to supervise and grade exams in Nghe An. Due to bombing, the journey was extremely difficult, sometimes traveling on national highways, sometimes along mountain roads from Hanoi and Hoa Binh to Nghe An. On one occasion, while traveling with him to Thanh Hoa, they encountered a tidal surge that flooded everything, forcing all members of the examination supervision team to get out and push the vehicle… Professor Nguy Nhu Kontum personally experienced these hardships, just like other officials. Then, for a time, a persistent internal disunity arose within the University, causing difficulties for the leadership… Despite holding such a significant responsibility in such difficult and complex circumstances, Professor Kontum never lost heart, remaining steadfast in his loyalty to the Party and fulfilling all assigned tasks with utmost dedication.

Professor Kontum also played a significant role in establishing a strong scientific research system, helping Hanoi University of Technology become a leading institution in scientific research nationwide. The scientific research movement flourished not only among faculty but also among students. Therefore, whether in wartime or peacetime, Hanoi University of Technology maintained its strengths and unique identity thanks to this scientific "quality." The prestige and reputation of Hanoi University of Technology also stem from this academic influence.

Besides being the Rector, Professor Kontum was also the Chairman of the Education Trade Union of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Higher Education and Vocational Training, and a member of the Presidium of the Vietnam Fatherland Front. He was also the President of the Vietnam Physics Society and participated in the leadership of the Vietnam Committee for World Peace. His social influence was also very broad.

In terms of his character, Professor Kontum was a shining example of a virtuous, clean, and simple life. He was particularly supportive of young people, readily creating opportunities to nurture talented youth. For students, the Professor was also a legend, embodying the erudition and great character of a scientist. This first Rector inspired many generations of students at the University to live, study, and fight, dedicating themselves to the revolutionary ideals and the independence and unification of the country. Even after his retirement, he showed concern and visited any faculty member or staff member of the University of Technology who was ill.

Towards the end of his life, he faced great hardship. Once, when I visited him at lunchtime, the Professor pointed to his plate of fish and said to me, "Look, Dật, I'm eating catfish." I was moved to tears. The second time I visited him, the Professor held a tomato and said, "I'm wondering whether to eat half or the whole thing!" The life of a great scientist, a patriotic intellectual who contributed to the revolution, a great teacher, and a role model for countless generations of students, also experienced such difficult and impoverished times.

In 1991, Professor Kontum was invited to attend a meeting of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front in Ho Chi Minh City. Before the meeting concluded, he fell ill. He flew directly to the hospital in the North. He passed away shortly afterward. His funeral was held at 18 Le Thanh Tong Street. The lecture hall of the former Indochina University was named Professor Nguy Nhu Kontum's lecture hall. A bust of him was also placed in this lecture hall as a tribute: "Professor Nguy Nhu Kontum will forever remain with Hanoi University."