Gia Lai: Stơr Resistance Village, from a legendary land of fire to a prosperous countryside.

(CLO) The Stơr resistance village (Tơ Tung commune, Gia Lai province) has long been a symbol of the indomitable spirit of the Central Highlands during the years of resistance against French colonialism. It is also the birthplace of the famous fighting village model, associated with the name of Hero Núp – an outstanding figure of the Ba Na ethnic group.

With only booby traps and stone snares, the people of Stơr transformed their small village, nestled in the vast forest, into an impregnable fortress during their resistance against colonialism and imperialism, into a legend.

The homeland of Hero Núp is reborn from the flames of war.

Stơr's pride lies not only in its unwavering revolutionary tradition but also in the fact that Hero Núp was the first person from the Central Highlands to be awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces by the State. His name transcends the mountains and forests of the Central Highlands, becoming a symbol of patriotism and indomitable will, and is known to international friends.

During the fierce war, the villagers of Stơr remained united, steadfastly clinging to their village and the mountains to resist the invading enemy. From the "Land of Fire" and bomb smoke of yesteryear, after the country achieved peace and reunification, Stơr gradually revived and became a model cultural village.

The Hero Núp Memorial House, which houses more than 400 precious images, artifacts, and memorabilia related to his revolutionary life (photo TH).

To this day, this small village nestled in the Trường Sơn mountain range retains its cultural essence and heroic traditions intact. Not only does it possess exceptional historical value, Stơr also boasts pristine natural landscapes, rich in the unique character of the Central Highlands, and is currently being developed into a model for rural tourism .

Perched on a windswept slope, the Hero Núp Memorial House, along with the resistance village complex featuring stilt houses, rice granaries, and memorial houses, creates a unique architectural ensemble of the Ba Na people amidst the majestic mountains and forests. This is an important destination in journeys to the roots, a place that passes on the "flame" of patriotism and revolutionary spirit to the younger generation.

Villagers in Stơr perform gong music during the New Rice Harvest Festival (photo by HN)

Over the years, accompanying the people in overcoming difficulties and building a prosperous life in their revolutionary homeland, the local government has developed and implemented many support policies. Particularly, investments from national target programs, including electricity, roads, schools, health stations, livelihood models, and changes in mindset and practices, have helped the village of Stơr to develop further.

Amidst the vast green fields of sugarcane at the foot of Kong Hoa mountain, Mr. Doen's family has become a prime example of economic development in Stơr village. Refusing to succumb to poverty, he boldly applied scientific and technological advancements to agricultural production, from sugarcane varieties and soil improvement to fertilizers, weeding, and mechanization in farming.

Currently, his family owns 10 hectares of sugarcane and 6 hectares of cassava. Just from the recent harvest, after deducting all expenses, the family earned over 300 million VND – a figure that was once unimaginable for the people here during those difficult times. Not keeping his experience to himself, Mr. Doen also took advantage of the situation to guide his fellow villagers to change their way of thinking and doing things to improve their lives and escape poverty.

The Ba Na people in Stơr village preserve the craft of basket weaving (photo by TH).

"We must set an example ourselves, and only when we see the results will others follow. If we don't do it, we won't escape poverty. In recent years, thanks to the application of advanced technology and mechanization in production, we have higher incomes, enough money to provide for our children's education, and our lives are much more comfortable than before," Mr. Doen shared.

Preserving the revolutionary spirit in the homeland of Hero Núp

Along with economic development, the younger generation in the village also relies on traditional culture to develop tourism, increasing their own income and that of the community. While Mr. Dinh Moi meticulously designed a wooden house in the traditional stilt house style to serve as a homestay, his wife is a talented chef who prepares many traditional dishes such as grilled chicken, sticky rice cooked in bamboo tubes, stir-fried cassava leaves with bitter melon, stream fish, and forest snails.

“As a son of the homeland of Hero Núp, I am very proud of our cultural and historical traditions and want to introduce them to many tourists. I hope that our family's homestay model and traditional cuisine will also be learned and followed by other locals, so that we can all prosper together in our own homeland,” Mr. Mỡ shared.

Mr. Dinh Moi tells tourists visiting the village about the revolutionary traditions of Stor village (photo by HN).

Mr. Dinh Roi – Party Secretary and Head of Stor village – couldn't hide his joy when mentioning the changes in his former revolutionary homeland. “Stor village currently has 106 households, mainly Ba Na people. The people here are now doing quite well economically, boldly converting unproductive cassava and rice fields to sugarcane cultivation for higher yields and income. To date, the entire village only has 5 poor households,” Mr. Roi shared.

Mr. Le Thanh Son, Chairman of the People's Committee of To Tung commune, emphasized: "The revolutionary tradition is the source of internal strength that enables the locality to unite, innovate, maintain its leadership role, gather the people, successfully carry out political tasks, and build the homeland. This is also the driving force for the commune to continue striving to achieve its goals, building the homeland of Hero Nup into an increasingly prosperous and beautiful place, and steadily moving forward on the new path."

Many unique cultural activities of the Ba Na people are passed down to the younger generation, creating a distinctive identity.

At the foot of Kong Hoa Mountain – the place that once sheltered Hero Nup and the villagers as they rose up in resistance against French colonialism – today it is adorned with lush green fields of sugarcane stretching as far as the eye can see. This land, once marked by years of hardship, has been revived, becoming peaceful and prosperous.

On every holiday, people gather at the Hero Núp Memorial House to offer incense and pay tribute to the outstanding hero of the Central Highlands. In the space resounding with the majestic sounds of gongs and drums amidst the vast forest, national pride is preserved through generations. It is not only a memory of a glorious time of struggle but also a source of strength for the Ba Na people today, uniting them to build a more prosperous life in their revolutionary homeland.

Source: https://congluan.vn/gia-lai-lang-khang-chien-stor-tu-dat-lua-huyen-thoai-den-mien-que-am-no-10340007.html