Remembering Minister Tran Huy Lieu: A life in harmony with the history of the cultural sector

VHO - On August 28, 1945, in the Proclamation of the Provisional Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the Ministry of Information and Propaganda, the predecessor of the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) was established. Mr. Tran Huy Lieu was the first Minister in the period of 1945-1946, laying a meaningful foundation for the later development of the Culture and Information sector. Not only known as a Minister, historian, journalist, he is also famous as a poet with the "sensitivity" of a patriotic culturalist.

President Ho Chi Minh and some members of the Provisional Revolutionary Government on the morning of September 3, 1945 in Hanoi (Minister Tran Huy Lieu standing on the right of Uncle Ho). Photo: VNA DOCUMENTS

The founder of the Culture - Information industry

Tran Huy Lieu (1901-1969) was a typical intellectual of Vietnam in the 20th century; a witness and a direct participant in making important historical events during the revolutionary movement and the early days of the Republic. He was from Van Cat village (Vu Ban district, Nam Dinh province). This cradle was where Tran Huy Lieu had his first education and was deeply influenced in terms of personality. He was a person who crystallized many outstanding abilities, the main root of which was patriotism and the spirit of loving culture.

During the ups and downs of history during that period, Minister Tran Huy Lieu left a mark, although not long, but it laid a meaningful foundation for the later development of the culture, sports and tourism sector. That was the birth of the Ministry of Information and Communication, the predecessor of the Ministry of Culture and Information and now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. One year as Minister of Information and Communication, although not long, the mark that Minister Tran Huy Lieu left for the sector became the premise for the staff working in the culture, sports and tourism sector to promote and contribute; bringing the sector to steady development over the past 80 years. He devoted all his heart and soul with the desire to lay the most solid "bricks" for the development of the sector in the future.

Holding the position of Minister and even after leaving his post, what he always promoted was the spirit of self-reflection and self-correction for cadres to follow; striving and dedicating himself to the glorious revolutionary cause of the nation. When joining the Association for National Salvation Culture as Chairman, he still worked with poet Nguyen Dinh Thi and many other writers and poets in the arts to create works imbued with the spirit of patriotism, revolution and to encourage the spirit of fighting for national liberation.

Going back in history, in 1943, our Party announced the "Outline on Vietnamese Culture". It clearly stated: The cultural front is one of three fronts (economic, political and cultural) . Thus, from the beginning, the Communist Party of Vietnam saw the important role of culture, orienting the building of Vietnamese culture. According to the Proclamation dated August 28, 1945 of the Provisional Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, in the national cabinet, the Ministry of Information and Propaganda was established (later, on January 1, 1946, renamed the Ministry of Propaganda and Agitation) - the predecessor of today's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Since then, August 28 every year has become the Traditional Day of the Culture, Sports and Tourism sector.

On November 24, 1946, the first National Cultural Conference was held in Hanoi. At the opening of the Conference, President Ho Chi Minh pointed out: "Culture must guide the nation to achieve Independence, Self-reliance and Self-determination". This is also the guiding principle throughout all activities of the industry.

Over the past 80 years of establishment, the Culture - Information sector has been renamed through each period, from the Ministry of Information - Propaganda to the Ministry of Propaganda and Agitation; Ministry of Culture and Information; Ministry of Culture; Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Tourism; Ministry of Culture, Information and Sports; Ministry of Culture - Information and now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Throughout the process of striving and growing, the Culture, Sports and Tourism sector has always promoted its tradition and excellently completed its tasks. Information, propaganda and ideological culture work has always been one of the important fronts, actively contributing to the victory in the cause of national liberation struggle, building and defending the Fatherland.

Entering the year 2025, after 80 years of formation and development along with the ups and downs of the country, following the teachings of President Ho Chi Minh: "Culture and art is also a front. You are soldiers on that front", the staff of the Culture, Sports and Tourism sector has contributed a lot of effort and enthusiasm, being present on all fronts throughout the two great resistance wars to save the nation.

The team of cultural cadres and artists across the country did not hesitate to face difficulties and hardships, rushing into the "rain of bombs and bullets" to both fight and compose many works to encourage the fighting spirit of our army and people. The glorious golden history of the nation is highlighted with countless selfless and tireless contributions of thousands of cultural soldiers who heroically sacrificed their lives while on duty, for the revolutionary cause and the happiness of the people. Each cadre working in the field of culture and information must not only perceive themselves as propagandists but also must be good at their expertise and profession; must constantly strive to improve the cultural life of the people; so that "Culture must light the way for the nation to go" as Uncle Ho taught.

Member of the Party Central Committee, Minister Nguyen Van Hung and the delegation of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism visited the Revolutionary Historical Site of the Information Department (the predecessor of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) in Minh Thanh commune, Son Duong district, Tuyen Quang province (September 15, 2022). Photo: TRAN HUAN

Devote all your heart to culture and arts

Tran Huy Lieu was born into a poor Confucian family. He was trained to be a mandarin or at least a Confucian scholar. But fate, or more correctly, his patriotism and love for the people soon blossomed when Tran Huy Lieu was a 13 or 14 year old boy. Having a natural “poetic nature”, by the 1920s, his poems were filled with indignation against the French invaders and patriotism.

No matter the circumstances, Tran Huy Lieu still had a love for poetry. At the end of 1929, the French colonialists suppressed revolutionary movements. Tran Huy Lieu was arrested and sentenced to 5 years in prison, exiled to Con Dao. In prison, Tran Huy Lieu was still passionate about writing poetry. The poems he composed at Hon Cau all reflected his impatience, missing his activities outside, missing his brothers and comrades who "lost their heads and shed blood" for the revolutionary cause of the nation. "The drums of war resounded all over the world / Only those who lay in the corner of Hon Cau beach / In trouble still feel ashamed of their own defeat / For the sake of the country, they miss their friends even more..." . That feeling kept burning in him, leading to plots to escape prison, find a way back to the revolution. It can be said that "poetry" was mixed in his blood and flesh to create a steadfast, straightforward but no less romantic revolutionary.

Tran Huy Lieu's poems are mainly those of a patriotic intellectual. He used poetry to express his patriotic thoughts passionately and deeply. Reading Tran Huy Lieu's poems, everyone can see that he is a person rich in emotions. It could be admiration for a martyr who sacrificed for the country as in the poem Listening to the news of Pham Hong Thai's sacrifice . It could also be pity for a soldier who died in battle with the enemy (Crying for Ho Manh Thiet) . 

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/cuoc-doi-hoa-cung-trang-su-nganh-van-hoa-119844.html