The one who lit the fire

“Education... is lighting the fire”. Although the exact author of the book has not yet been determined, that truth has been witnessed by generations of us, his students, in the enthusiastic, upright, and humane teacher: Associate Professor, Doctor, Meritorious Teacher Pham Xuan Hang.

Associate Professor, Dr., Meritorious Student Pham Xuan Hang was born in 1950 in Rang village, now Thuong Hien commune, Kien Xuong, Thai Binh. Orphaned at the age of 10, 6 years later, with his younger sister, he followed his mother to reclaim land in Lao Cai. Perhaps, the "forest sun, mountain wind" has shaped him - always taking the lead, exploring difficult and new lands in research and training.

Perhaps from his own and family experiences of escaping poverty and overcoming difficulties, he understood the role of education. Therefore, after graduating from the Moscow State Historical Archives University (Soviet Union), he refused to work at the Party History Research Department under the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam to become a lecturer at the Faculty of History, Hanoi National University.

We miss the hours of his lectures - eloquence and debate as the core of the lectures helped us understand the role of Historiography in researching and writing History. The spread of a new major in Vietnam urged him to return to the National University of Archives and History, Moscow to do research, mainly to improve his knowledge to build and develop a new major - the major of Historiography and Historiography in the training program of the Faculty of History, Hanoi National University - now the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU. Just as F. Engels said, to understand things, one must learn their history, the major of Historiography and Historiography has rapidly developed, attracting students at the master's and doctoral levels.

Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Xuan Hang (1950-2018)

Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Xuan Hang is an expert in Historical Theory in Vietnam. He has published many valuable scientific works such asApplying historical methods in evaluating the value of written documents(1982), Some characteristics of Soviet historiographical theory in the process of its formation(1983); The problem of historical sources in modern Soviet historiography(1988);Concept and nature of historical sources in modern Soviet historiography(1990); History - a science, a reality(1991);Sources of historical writing in Vietnam(1994);The problem of historical processing of written documents(1996), Historical nature(2011), etc.

On the basis of historical and historical materials methodology,Associate Professor, Dr., Meritorious Student Pham Xuan Hang also published valuable monographs such asDiplomatic activities of the Ly Dynasty(1009-1225) (2009),Thinking aboutDDiplomatic struggles in the resistance war against Ming invaders(2010),Vietnamese diplomacy in the periodDin Ho Chi Minh City(2010),Diplomatic activities in Thang Long-Hanoi(2010), etc.

It is said that people with "network"pine, cypress"Those who grow up in the mountains and forests often have the qualities of a leader. We do not know about horoscopes, but it seems that it is associated with Associate Professor, Doctor, Meritorious Student Pham Xuan Hang. He was nominated and assigned to take on many important management positions: Member of the Standing Committee of the Lao Cai Town High School Youth Union (1968-1970); Member of the Standing Committee of the Moscow City Vietnamese Student Youth Union (1973-1974); Deputy Secretary of the Party Cell of the Moscow State University of Archives and History (1986-1987), Deputy Head of the History Department (1990-1995), Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU (1995-2001), Party Committee Secretary (1999-2001), RectorthoughtUniversity of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU (2001-January 2006). In 2006, he was assigned to work at agencies of Hanoi City and the Central Government and held the following positions: Member of the Standing Committee, Head of the Propaganda Department of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the Hanoi City Fatherland Front, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

The late Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Xuan Hang at the 60th anniversary celebration of the establishment of Hanoi University of Letters, the predecessor of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, and the School received the title of Hero of Labor (2005). At that time, he was the Party Secretary and Principal of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

As Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front - the agency responsible for criticizing development guidelines and policies - with the integrity and mettle of a scientist, he not only has many consultants and critics on development guidelines and policies of the country and Hanoi City, but also published works to approach the thinking and methods of social criticism in Vietnam:Thinking about the issue of self-criticism and criticism in the work "Reforming the working style" by President Ho Chi Minh” (2008),Social criticism of the Vietnam Fatherland Front – A method of practicing democracy to create the strength of great national unity"(2010); AuthorRegulations on coordination of social criticism organizations in Hanoi city(2010),Practicing democracy within the Party is a condition for building a strong Party.(2011),Socio-political organizations participate in the policy-making process(2011),Questioning regulations in the Party - Issues raised(2012), etc. Indirectly, these works contribute to improving the quality of social criticism in Vietnam.

Late Associate Professor, Dr., Meritorious Artist Pham Xuan Hang took a photo with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Professor, Dr., Meritorious Artist Phung Huu Phu, Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Quang Long, Professor, Dr., People's Teacher Nguyen Van Khanh (in 2005)

In 2010, at the age of sixty, he was allowed to rest but following the call of his conscience and the requirements of the School, with practical experience in many management positions, our teacher was not afraid of difficulties, continuing to contribute to the development of a new field of study - Management Science with directions imbued with practical colors such as Leadership Skills, General Social Criticism, etc.

He did not preach to us, but his career practice has, is, and will remind us that “Learn-Understand-Act"(Ho Chi Minh) is a valuable lesson, a compass for opening up and acquiring new knowledge.

It is so sad to see that your hair has turned “chalk dust” white but you are still working hard for the cause of educating people. But I hope that you will always be healthy to continue to light many more fires with us, contributing to the development of science and education in our country, for the prosperity of Vietnam.