Remembering journalist Pham Khac Lam

Ms. Thai Tuyet Mai, former Deputy Head of the Press Department, Central Propaganda Department, his faithful life partner, sobbed and said briefly: "He loved Uncle Toan, he often mentioned me" and then stopped... Suddenly hearing the news that journalist Pham Khac Lam had passed away, I suddenly remembered Trinh Cong Son's song "Let the wind take it away" which he loved very much during his lifetime: Living in life, one needs to have a heart, to do what... let the wind take it away...

Like a slow-motion film about the life and career of veteran journalist Pham Khac Lam appeared in my mind, about a man who had devoted more than half of his life to the profession. He always felt the simplicity and serenity, just like his own life, when he resigned from his duties as General Director and Editor-in-Chief of Vietnam Television (VTV), on December 31, 1993. That year, he had passed the age of 64. One day later, January 1, 1994, he went to Ho Chi Minh City to attend the National Television Festival and improvised a few simple verses to say goodbye to his friends and colleagues in television: Fame and fortune are like clouds/ Wealth and honor are like red feathers/ Among friends and colleagues/ The most precious thing is the heart!

I have known him for a long time, when I was still a lieutenant at the People's Army Newspaper. One time, in April 1975, I went to the Press and Publishing Department, Central Propaganda Department, my colleague Le Huu Que pointed to the table next to me: "Ms. Thai Tuyet Mai, wife of the Department Head, journalist Pham Khac Lam, eldest daughter-in-law of Mr. Pham Khac Hoe". Hearing that, Ms. Thai Tuyet Mai, a fellow Nghe An native, smiled: "What are you two saying bad about your sister?" After that initial "clearing up", Le Huu Que, Ms. Thai Tuyet Mai, and I talked about everything under the sun. A while later, Mr. Pham Khac Lam stopped by to give the car key to Ms. Thai Tuyet Mai. Ms. Thai Tuyet Mai, a student of the Faculty of Literature - class 7 (1962 - 1966), Hanoi University of Science. Mr. and Mrs. Khac Lam - Tuyet Mai were a beautiful couple. And since that day, I became close to the senior journalist couple, learning many useful things about the profession from them.

Journalist Pham Khac Lam took a photo with General Vo Nguyen Giap in 1998.

Journalist Pham Khac Lam's private home is at 48B Trang Thi Street, Hanoi, next to the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front . Once, while waiting for a taxi with him in front of the alley, he jokingly said:

- Many days when I have free time, I stop by the Front to hang out with some old scholars and intellectuals, who are also familiar with me. They talk about current events and human affairs. Once, I went out and met some farmers from the countryside who came to see the Front to complain about some land issues. I gave them advice and showed them how to "untie the knot". When people are upset, they file lawsuits at higher levels, but when I understand, wholeheartedly guide and advise them with reason, they happily listen, and everyone goes home in order. Our people always wholeheartedly follow the Party.

His heart is like that, devoted, thoughtful, devoted to everyone. On the afternoon of May 29, 2014, at that time I had transferred to work in Ho Chi Minh City and had the opportunity to fly back to Hanoi, I went to his house to chat. When I called him, he was in a meeting of the neighborhood party cell. Ms. Thai Tuyet Mai came down to the alley to pick me up, went upstairs to the small apartment where he and his wife had been attached for half a century. After chatting with her for half an hour, he came home. Seeing him wearing a T-shirt and shorts, I jokingly asked:

- You're having a party meeting like you're playing golf?

He smiled:

- The party cell has a few dozen people, all very close. The weather is so hot today. The men, all wear shorts for convenience. In this meeting, we would like to suggest to the heavens, why is it so hot, also due to climate change, please send some cool sea breeze. The whole group laughed.

Talking over tea that afternoon, journalist Khac Lam confided and chatted, taking me back to the past - memories of his life. He remembered every little detail of the past vividly. In 1988, when he was the Head of the International Propaganda Department, Central Propaganda Department, he was transferred to be the General Director and Editor-in-Chief of Vietnam Television (VTV). Following the organization's assignment, he gently left Nguyen Canh Chan street, went to Giang Vo to receive a new assignment. Arriving at VTV, meeting with key staff of the agency, he was gentle and simple like his nature:

- I am not knowledgeable about the television field. I also do not have any unique martial arts. You guys help me fulfill my duty. I just hope everyone unites, loves each other, and works together to do a good job.

Journalist Pham Khac Lam.

During the historical period, the country started to innovate, after many years of crisis during the subsidy period, lacking in all aspects. VTV faced difficulties in terms of equipment, finance, human resources and professionalism. Overcoming difficulties, journalist Pham Khac Lam, with his heart, enthusiasm, and passion for the job, together with the staff, reporters, editors, and technicians, started and did a lot of work. He contributed to the innovation of VTV, and the audience clearly saw it through each program on the small screen. During this period, he had many worries because of unhappy internal matters at VTV. He was discreet by nature, and many sensitive matters were not convenient for him to talk about. Only knowing that, in difficult times, besides his close friends and colleagues, who shared his feelings, was his virtuous and capable wife, and his devoted colleague Thai Tuyet Mai, who was always a strong spiritual support for him.

I once asked him:

- If you could choose again, what career would you choose?

Journalist Pham Khac Lam said immediately:

- Journalism. I have loved journalism since I started my career.

He is the eldest son of Mr. Pham Khac Hoe, the elder brother of People's Artist Pham Thi Thanh, from Duc Nhan commune (now Bui La Nhan), Duc Tho district, Ha Tinh. Mr. Pham Khac Hoe is a lawyer, writer, Royal Office Chief of King Bao Dai - Minister of State, the last king of the Nguyen Dynasty. He is the one who drafted the abdication edict on August 22, 1945 of King Bao Dai, witnessing the collapse of the last feudal dynasty in Vietnam. These historical events were vividly recorded by Mr. Pham Khac Hoe in his famous memoir: "From the Hue Court to the Viet Bac resistance base". In 1953, Pham Khac Lam was sent to China to study. In 1954, after finishing his foreign language studies, he was selected to study metallurgy at the Beijing Iron and Steel Academy. Then, once at the Vietnamese Embassy, ​​he accidentally learned that Vietnam was about to send some people to study journalism at university. Overjoyed, Pham Khac Lam submitted his application and his wish was approved. After graduating from Beijing University of Journalism, in 1959 he returned to Vietnam, took up a position at the Press Department, then the International Propaganda Department, Central Propaganda Department and remained in the profession until his retirement at VTV.

It is known that in 2013, Pham Khac Lam was one of the elite members of the Intelligence Youth Team, District 6 Police, Hanoi Police, receiving the title of Heroic Unit of the People's Armed Forces. I asked him this, journalist Pham Khac Lam softly said:

- At the age of 15, I joined the patriotic youth organization in Hue. In 1946, I followed my father and family to Hanoi. My grandfather worked for President Ho Chi Minh's government. He was arrested and imprisoned by the French. At the end of 1946, Hanoi began its resistance war. I contacted the organization and joined the Intelligence Youth Team, District 6 Police. During this time, the Team did a lot of work, communicated with the revolution and achieved outstanding achievements, contributing to the destruction of anti-revolutionary elements.

After this period, Pham Khac Lam joined the Vietnam People's Army, took on duties at the Ministry of National Defense's Secretariat and the General Command, and worked as a secretary for General Vo Nguyen Giap in the Viet Bac War Zone until he was sent to study in China.

After retirement, Pham Khac Lam made many contributions to building Que Huong Magazine, a bridge with overseas Vietnamese. He was the initiator and founder of Nhip Cau Dau Tu and Khuyen Hoc newspapers. He was the Editor-in-Chief of Viet - My Magazine, under the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations. Despite his old age, he still diligently traveled and wrote, devoting himself to the words. After the political book "America in the Vietnam War - A Perspective", National Political Publishing House - 2005, Pham Khac Lam published "Vietnam after peace - Some feelings", Ho Chi Minh City Youth Publishing House - 2014.

Living in life, all you need is a heart, the life of journalist Pham Khac Lam had a heart, to accompany him passionately, devotedly and wholeheartedly to the journalism profession he chose. He passed away at a very old age. This article is like a stick of incense respectfully bowing to say goodbye to a profound, dedicated, and career-loving writer...

PV

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nho-nha-bao-pham-khac-lam-post264070.html