Looking back at all the milestones of President Ho Chi Minh 's birthday from 1946 to 1969, we realize: He always celebrated his birthday by working diligently. He also always avoided all congratulations by not being at home.
Memoir " Uncle Ho writes his will" Comrade Vu Ky wrote about May 19: “It was a day like any other day, with the same sun, the same wind, the same sky, the same ground… But why was it so sacred! Since May 19, 1946, for the first time our people celebrated the birthday of President Ho, every year on that day, the whole nation seemed to bathe in a special atmosphere, with soaring joy, a cheerful soul, with the legitimate pride of the people of an independent, free country, associated with the name of the most beautiful person: Ho Chi Minh”[1]. During his 24 years as head of state, in 1946 alone, he allowed the announcement of his birthday. The reason was because the Vietnam-France conflict was tense, and according to plan, on the afternoon of May 18, the High Commissioner of Indochina, Dac Giang Lieu, a very belligerent person, would fly from Saigon to Hanoi. The celebration of his birthday was held “to demonstrate the solidarity of the people around the head of a young nation facing great challenges related to the destiny of the nation rather than a cult of respect for the leader”[2]. By giving information about his birthday, President Ho Chi Minh created the context for a necessary diplomatic activity. On the afternoon of May 18, 1946, Dac Gianhieu had to come to congratulate him on his birthday.
On the Vietnamese people's side, all people warmly welcomed President Ho Chi Minh's birthday as a precious opportunity to express their respect and love for the man who changed the destiny of the nation. On the morning of May 19, 1946, comrades in the Central Standing Committee, in the Government , representatives of the capital's children, the delegation of the people of the South and many departments and branches came to congratulate him on his birthday. The capital's Youth Force organized a march to demonstrate power to celebrate his birthday. In front of the people's affection, he humbly said: "I am not worthy of the care of the people, because I am still a young man, at the age of 56, I am not worthy of being congratulated by the people... Up to now, I have been a person of the people, from now on I still belong to the people" [3]. May 19, 1946 opened a beautiful custom in Vietnam: Every year, the entire Vietnamese people celebrate the birthday of beloved President Ho Chi Minh.
When the resistance war against France took place, President Ho Chi Minh celebrated his birthday on the resistance roads. On the morning of May 19, 1947, when comrades serving brought bouquets of wild flowers to congratulate him on his birthday, he suggested that those flowers be used to pay respects to comrade Hoang Van Loc - his close supporter who had just passed away on May 3, 1947. He did not allow the celebration of his 58th and 59th birthdays, but when he received congratulations from comrades in the National Assembly, the Government, organizations and many classes of people, he sent letters of thanks.
In 1950, the Central Party Standing Committee earnestly requested Ho Chi Minh to allow a celebration of his 60th birthday. He refused, but the agencies and organizations persistently proposed, so he finally accepted. The birthday celebration that year, although simple in material terms, was full of comradeship and compatriotism. Priest Pham Ba Truc - who held the position of Deputy Head of the National Assembly Standing Committee at that time, solemnly read the congratulatory message on behalf of everyone. After the birthday celebration, he wrote Thank you letter to send to the National Assembly, the Government, organizations and all the people who wished him a happy birthday.
On his 61st, 62nd and 63rd birthdays, he still worked normally but did not forget to send a letter of thanks to the people for their birthday wishes. His 64th birthday took place in an extremely joyful atmosphere because the Dien Bien Phu Campaign had just won. This was also a meaningful birthday gift that the cadres and soldiers respectfully offered him. Understanding that, he had Letter to all officers and soldiers at the Dien Bien Phu front, Among them are very intimate sentences: "All of you, as well as cadres and soldiers nationwide, are determined to achieve great victory to wish Uncle Ho a long life. Uncle Ho decided to treat you all"[4].
After peace was restored, to avoid excessive congratulation, on his birthdays from 1955 to 1959, he often left the Presidential Palace to go to the facilities. On May 19, 1955, he visited the Gia Lam Railway Factory. On May 19, 1957, he visited Thay Pagoda in Son Tay Commune, Quoc Oai District (Ha Tay). On May 19, 1958, he visited Huong Tich Pagoda. On May 19, 1959, President Ho Chi Minh visited Tay Phuong Pagoda in Thach Xa Commune, Thach That District (Ha Tay). After the birthday celebration, he sent letters of thanks to the departments, branches, organizations and people who had congratulated him on his birthday.
Between 1960 and 1967, except for 1963 and 1964, he celebrated his birthday in China six times. This was due to the Politburo's directive that he should go on vacation every year to recuperate. He often left before his birthday to avoid birthday celebrations at home. Before leaving, he often "agreed on conditions" with the Chinese side: No birthday celebrations of any kind would be held.
On his 73rd birthday, he was in Hanoi to attend the 6th session of the 2nd National Assembly. On his 74th birthday, May 19, 1964, he gave an interview to the magazine Minority of one with the affirmation: "Our compatriots would rather sacrifice everything, but will never be slaves"[5].
In May 1965, on his 75th birthday, he wrote the first line of Will . From then until his death, every year, from May 10 to 19, he spent about 1 hour each day writing and revising it. Will . Writing. Testament was thinking about death but Ho Chi Minh leisurely wrote on his birthday. In the manuscript written in 1965, he also opened Testament with the words "on the occasion of happy 75 years old”[6]. He used life to face death, used joy to overcome pain, brought serenity and peace to replace the fear of everyday life. On May 19, 1968, in addition to cordially receiving comrades Vo Nguyen Giap and Pham Van Dong who came to congratulate him on his birthday, President Ho continued to write The will , specifically, added 6 handwritten pages about the plan to rebuild the country after the war. On his 79th birthday, May 11, 1969, President Ho Chi Minh visited and talked with the delegates of the Conference of Senior Cadres of the entire army. Comrade Vuong Thua Vu, on behalf of the Conference, wished him a long life. On May 18, 1969, he received office staff, comrades in the Politburo and some comrades of the Central Committee who came to wish him a long life. The birthday party was very simple and friendly. After that, he continued to review and edit. Testament . On the afternoon of May 19, 1969, he spent time writing a letter praising the children of Mang Non cooperative in Phu Man village, Ham Son commune, Yen Phong district, Ha Bac province for their achievements in caring for cattle. Also on his 79th birthday, he expressed his love for his homeland by presenting the Party Committee, cadres and people of Nghe An province with his portrait.
Looking back at all the birthday celebrations of President Ho Chi Minh from 1946 to 1969, we see that: He always celebrated his birthday with diligence. He also told his servants: "May is the month to celebrate Uncle's birthday, I have to work harder" [7]. He also always avoided all congratulations by not being at home. If there were birthday celebrations, they were just warm meetings of affection and simple material things. As a thoughtful person, after his birthday, he always sent thank you letters to everyone.
Associate Professor, Dr. TRAN THI MINH TUYET (Senior Lecturer, Academy of Journalism and Communication)
[1] Uncle Ho wrote his Testament - Memoirs of Vu Ky , Thuan Hoa Publishing House, Hue, 2005, p.123.
[2] Past and Present Magazine: President Ho Chi Minh on this day in history , National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2010, vol.1, p.308.
[3] Newspaper National Salvation No. 244 dated May 20, 1946.
[4] Ho Chi Minh: Complete works , National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, vol.8, p.470.
[5] Ho Chi Minh : Complete Works, Ibid, vol. 14, p. 330.
[6] Ho Chi Minh: Complete works , ibid, vol. 15, p. 611.
[7] Uncle Ho wrote his Testament - Memoirs of Vu Ky , op. cit., p. 93.
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