Song of the Torch

The team of journalists and soldiers is a special force, contributing greatly to the miracles in the two resistance wars.

Lyrics woven from heartfelt verses

The Vietnamese revolutionary press has made many contributions to the resounding victory of the August Revolution, the glorious victory of the two resistance wars, in discovering and fighting against negativity and social criticism; in discovering and encouraging new, fresh buds of life, in fighting against badness and evil, protecting the right to life, freedom and legitimate interests of the people, creating the great victory of the cause of national renewal since the mid-1980s.

As professional journalists, understanding life, understanding the role, mission and great contributions of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Press, Journalist and poet Nguyen Si Dai and Tran Kim Hoa have together painted an accurate and noble image of journalists - those who light up faith, are the torch that lights up the light of the Party to guide the whole nation to overcome all obstacles and thorns to the final victory of the revolution, to build an independent and developed Vietnam, standing shoulder to shoulder with the world powers as the ardent wish of Uncle Ho, the supreme leader, founder and teacher of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Press. From that sacred source of emotion and with a special love for the press, musician Duc Giao composed a meaningful piece of music about journalists.

Musician Duc Giao was born in 1955 in the steel homeland of Vinh Linh, Quang Tri. In 1967, the Party and State sent him to the North to study in Thai Binh (K8 student group). After the Paris Agreement was signed in 1973, he returned to his hometown of Quang Tri to continue his studies. In 1974, after finishing 10th grade, he joined the army. In the army, he was assigned by his superiors to be in charge of cultural and propaganda work, and was the captain of the cultural team of the regiment, division 304, army corps 2...

After being discharged from the army, he retook the university entrance exam and studied Law in the Soviet Union for 7 years. In 1989, he returned to Vietnam and worked at the National Assembly Office, then worked at the Ministry of Justice and retired there in 2006.

Manuscript of the song "The Torch" by musician Duc Giao

Musician Duc Giao shared: He himself loves journalism and often writes for newspapers. When working at the Ministry of Justice, he often wrote for the Phap Luat newspaper with the theme of praising shining examples in the justice sector, in the fields of culture and legal science, thereby making him love his fate with words even more and admire the example of journalists who always fight for the cause of national liberation, social justice and social security.

Journalists are people who are trusted and honored by the whole society. Among the forces of society, it can be said that the role of journalists always holds an important position, they are the people who are trusted and entrusted by the people. Journalists have sympathized with the difficulties of the people, spoken the voice of the people, exposed bad habits, the dark corners of society, told the truth and protected the right. Journalists are loyal soldiers not only in wartime but also in peacetime.

Musician Duc Giao is a member of the Hanoi Music Association and the Vietnam Musicians Association. Many of his compositions are highly appreciated by musicians such as: "April Hanoi" won the C prize in the writing contest about Hanoi in 2010; "Hanoi's Autumn Melody" ; "Autumn Melody" .

Among his compositions, he is particularly fond of the song "The Torch Song" composed in 2021, which left him with many special emotions and memories. It was on a beautiful morning, when musician Duc Giao was at the writing camp of the Hanoi Literature and Arts Association in Dai Lai, Vinh Phuc, when poet and journalist Nguyen Si Dai sent him a newly composed poem about the image of soldier journalists.

After musician Duc Giao finished reading, his emotions surged and he immediately went to the rock under the tree, sat there and in his head gradually appeared musical notes accompanied by burning lyrics full of marching but lyrical qualities, starting from the chorus: "The ground, though shrouded in war. The sky, though whirling with storms. On a blank page, I light a fire, illuminating the way, going to the future..." .

The song was composed and completed by him that very morning with very honest, unadorned words about journalism, depicting the image of a journalist with a proud, upright attitude but full of humanity and love.

Beautiful image - "torch"

The important material for authors Nguyen Si Dai and Tran Thi Kim Hoa to write poems about journalism and journalists probably comes mostly from documents, artifacts, and images about the history of Vietnamese journalism displayed at the Vietnam Journalism Museum.

Since the first Vietnamese newspaper appeared, through the turbulent and ups and downs of history, Vietnamese press has undergone many transformations, diversified and enriched in types associated with each stage of development, but the mainstream is still revolutionary press.

Through artifacts telling stories about journalism in secret times, on the battlefield, and in peacetime, the poem reveals the nature and role of Vietnam's revolutionary press as well as depicts an image of a team of enthusiastic journalists, willing to wholeheartedly use their pens to serve the country and the people.

The image of the "flaming torch" is a unique and meaningful metaphor when talking about journalists. Since leader Nguyen Ai Quoc gave birth to the Vietnamese Revolutionary Press, opening a new period of struggle for the cause of national liberation, the role of our press and journalists is like a blazing torch, illuminating the way for the people to walk in the dark night of the colonialists and feudalists.

Those torches always have to face dangers and hardships, and are always being extinguished by the enemy in every way, but they cannot know that the spiritual strength and noble ideals of those torches are immortal. Our revolutionary journalists would rather choose a noble death than kneel down and bend their pens before the enemy.

Journalists are also soldiers, they use their pens as weapons, exposing the crimes of the invading enemy, exposing their true face of demagoguery to the people like the Thanh Nien newspaper of Leader Nguyen Ai Quoc, outlining the path of struggle, protecting the rights of the people like the newspapers: Tin Tuc, Dan Chung... Calling for solidarity of all classes to fight together against the invading enemy like the Cuu Quoc newspaper...

Our outstanding journalists such as Nguyen Ai Quoc, Truong Chinh, Vo Nguyen Giap, Xuan Thuy, Hoang Tung... were trained and matured through years of long and persistent struggle in colonial prisons. They used their pens as a lever to change the regime, contributing an important part in orienting public opinion, encouraging and reflecting the fighting spirit of our army and people.

The song "Torch" was sung loudly by the leaders and staff of the Vietnam Press Museum at the 5th Anniversary Celebration (2017 - 2022).

Through the resistance wars against invaders, revolutionary journalists have become more imbued with Uncle Ho's teachings: Fight for the country, for the people. For a unified country tomorrow, journalists do not fear hardships and dangers, are ready to cross the Truong Son mountain range, rush into the battlefield to record photos and write lines reflecting the fighting spirit of our army and people. Many of them have fallen for the cause of national liberation, for a steadfast belief and ideal for future generations to be forever proud of and follow.

Not only that, through many ups and downs, the devastation of war, even in peacetime, our journalists still use their pens every day to reflect the spirit of emulation in production and national construction. The press praises typical examples but is not afraid or hesitant to expose corruption and negativity, fighting to the end to protect the rights of the people.

The saying: "Sharp pen, pure heart, bright eyes" is like a declaration of generations of Vietnamese journalists, just as President Ho Chi Minh - the founder and teacher of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Journalism advised: "Journalists are also revolutionary soldiers. Pen and paper are their sharp weapons" . Uncle Ho's teachings always urge true Vietnamese journalists to overcome all difficulties and dangers in both wartime and peacetime to most gloriously fulfill the mission of a writer.

"The Torch Song" was written by poet Si Dai - Kim Hoa with special sacred emotions and great love for journalism. Each verse seems to contain so much admiration and gratitude for generations of Vietnamese journalists - Those who always "fight for the people" .

Understanding the meaning that the poet wanted to convey, along with deep sympathy and gratitude, musician Duc Giao has created a sacred and solemn torch with musical notes. This is truly a special spiritual gift for Vietnamese journalists.

Nguyen Ba

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/bai-ca-cay-duoc-lua--hinh-tuong-dep-ve-nghe-bao-post252463.html