Discussion: "Uncle Ho - A model of lifelong learning"

Kim Dong Publishing House has just organized a talk show "Uncle Ho - A model of lifelong learning" at the Central Stage displaying the achievements of the publishing industry within the framework of the National Achievement Exhibition "80 years of the Journey of Independence - Freedom - Happiness" at the National Exhibition Center (Dong Anh, Hanoi).

Space of the talk show "Uncle Ho - A model of lifelong learning".

The talk show "Uncle Ho - A model of lifelong learning" had the participation of Dr. Chu Duc Tinh, former Director of the Ho Chi Minh Museum; Dr. Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang, Institute of Journalism and Communication, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, with the guidance of Dr. Kim Nguyen Bao.

Throughout his life and revolutionary career, President Ho Chi Minh always emphasized studying to improve his knowledge and understanding. Besides inheriting the tradition of studiousness of his family and his hometown of Nghe An, during his journey to find a way to save the country and carry out revolutionary activities, he constantly studied and self-studied, studied at school, studied from books, learned from each other and learned from the people.

Uncle Ho's book series by Kim Dong Publishing House.

On his journey to find a way to save the country, Uncle Ho traveled through many countries and continents. He taught himself many foreign languages ​​to communicate, read books and newspapers, and research documents. In his self-declaration as a delegate to the 7th International Communist Congress, he wrote: "Knows the following languages: French, English, Chinese, Italian, German, Russian."

Sharing with Party members on December 9, 1961, President Ho Chi Minh once said: "I am 71 years old this year, and I have to study every day. I have to participate in big and small things. Work keeps progressing. If you don't study, you won't be able to keep up, and work will leave you behind."

The interpretations focused on sharing many profound contents about Uncle Ho's spirit of self-study.

French journalist Léo Figuères shared about him: "People see in him a rich life experience, a broad understanding, with the cultural level of a person that no one forgets that he was a journalist, a writer and a poet among the most outstanding journalists, writers and poets in Vietnam".

Ms. Vu Thi Quynh Lien, Deputy Director and Editor-in-Chief of Kim Dong Publishing House, expressed: "We are living in the historic autumn days, the whole country is looking forward to the great national holiday - the 80th anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. More than ever, we remember and are grateful to President Ho Chi Minh - the one who made great contributions to bringing peace and independence to the Vietnamese people".

Ms. Vu Thi Quynh Lien - Deputy Director, Editor-in-Chief of Kim Dong Publishing House spoke at the seminar.

"His great ideology is a priceless legacy, Ho Chi Minh's moral example will forever be a lesson for every Vietnamese citizen and especially the young generation to follow. Along with publishing books about President Ho Chi Minh's life and career, Kim Dong Publishing House also regularly organizes exchange activities with readers. Through the discussion 'Uncle Ho - A model of lifelong learning', Kim Dong Publishing House hopes to spread President Ho Chi Minh's ideology to readers, especially young readers," said Ms. Vu Quynh Lien.

During the talk show, guests shared touching and profound stories about President Ho Chi Minh's lifelong learning example, recorded and retold through documents and books.

Dr. Chu Duc Tinh shared that Kim Dong Publishing House has many good books about Uncle Ho's childhood, many good stories about his spirit and love of learning. He affirmed that learning and writing were closely associated with Uncle Ho's whole life. His learning never stopped.

The students asked many interesting questions.

Uncle Ho once affirmed: "An ignorant nation is a weak nation", therefore, right after gaining independence, he proposed to immediately fight illiteracy, launching the "popular education" movement, that spirit is now also promoted by our Party and State in the "popular education digital" movement.

Answering the question of a student from Marie Curie School attending the program about choosing what to study in the vast ocean of knowledge today, Dr. Chu Duc Tinh shared the story: As early as 1949, when visiting Nguyen Ai Quoc Party School, Uncle Ho wrote in the guestbook: 'Study to work, to be a human. Study to serve the community, the class and the people, the Fatherland and humanity'. This is the guiding principle for us to choose what to study, what to study.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang, Institute of Journalism and Communication, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, who has many years of research on Uncle Ho's revolutionary journalism career, commented that in the current period of strong digital transformation, we need to remember and learn from Uncle Ho's spirit of lifelong learning.

Over the years, Kim Dong Publishing House has always focused on publishing publications about the life, career, moral example and style of President Ho Chi Minh for children and readers of all ages.

The publisher's "Uncle Ho's Bookshelf" is always updated annually with new publications, diverse in content and form, such as: From Sen Village , Green Lotus Bud, Father and Son, Ho Chi Minh - A man and a nation, Following in His Footsteps, Telling Stories of Uncle Ho, Portrait of Uncle Ho, Uncle Ho Writing His Will and Uncle Ho's Will, Uncle Ho's Secretary Telling Stories, Uncle Ho Writing the Declaration of Independence...

At the seminar, some excerpts from the book were shared with readers. Here are some excerpts from the book "Blue Lotus" about the spirit of self-study and family traditions in President Ho Chi Minh's childhood.

Excerpt written about Uncle Ho's childhood, his father bought him many books to read, even though the value of the books was equal to a month's worth of rice for the whole family: "Coming to a bookstore, Mr. Sac bought for his two children a set of books: So hoc van tan and Au hoc ngu ngon thi. He told his two children: - When I first started school (meaning just entering school), I was only allowed to copy the lessons read by the teacher and did not have my own books. These two sets of books were compiled by our people in the South for our people in the South to study... Leaving the bookstore, Mr. Sac told his two children: - The amount of money to buy these books is equal to a month's worth of rice for our family, my children."

"- What is worth spending on cannot be frugal, my children. To study, one must have books. In the book "Children's Five-Word Poetry" that I just bought for you, it teaches: "Di tu kim man doanh, ha nhu giao nhat kinh."

Before Sac could explain, Con asked:

- What does that mean, dad?

- That means giving your child a chest full of gold is not as good as teaching him a book. Do you understand?

Excerpt from the book "Blue Lotus" talks about how Mr. Nguyen Sinh Sac, despite having passed the exam, still focused on learning the national language with his children: "During the years of studying 'new characters' at Dong Ba primary school, Thanh and Dat were also encouraged by their father: Every day after coming home from work at the Ministry, after dinner, he often sat at the desk to study the lessons his children were studying. He considered his two children as 'teachers' teaching him 'new characters'. Dat considered his father's studying 'new characters' a pleasure. Thanh saw that his father, who was over forty years old, had passed the exam as a deputy, had to bear the pain of losing the country, had to accept a position at the Ministry of Rites, but still diligently studied 'new characters', which was unusual. He was convinced of his father's words: 'Our ancestors never submitted to the Chinese invaders, but respected Chinese characters, respected Chinese culture. Today, you children should try to study 'new characters', study French characters to broaden your mind, then you will know the direction to act in accordance with the times... Studying 'characters' "New" is not to go and become a teacher or a messenger..."

Excerpt about Uncle Ho's spirit of self-study when traveling through continents to find a way to save the country, excerpt from "Following His Footsteps", Kim Dong Publishing House, 2025: "In Boston, in addition to studying at MIT, Uncle Ho also took advantage of his free time to go to the Boston Public Library, which is now one of the largest libraries in the world. At this library, Uncle Ho read and found the things he wanted to find."

… "He silently looked at the two of them, then patted Paul on the shoulder and said:

– If I wanted a degree, I could have gotten one in my country. My father had a doctorate, but he considered it worthless because it could not help my people. I left, I came to your France, because when I was at school I learned that in France there are six words: 'Liberty, Equality, Fraternity'. I came here to see those six words, and to find out how my people can get those six words. I want to find a way to save my people."

… "Uncle Ho once said: 'Libraries are a treasure trove of human heritage'. Sainte Geneviève Library is where Uncle Ho often visited every day. He read, studied and wrote in this priceless treasure trove of human heritage".

THUY PHUONG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/toa-dam-bac-ho-tam-guong-hoc-tap-suot-doi-post904799.html