“Ho Chi Minh: The Life of a Revolutionary”, by Sufi Amarjit

 

Ho Chi Minh

Excerpts from the book, “Ho Chi Minh: The Life of a Revolutionary”, by Sufi Amarjit, Gargi Pub. (2018).

Vietnam is a progressive nation bordering China, with present population of 98 million and area 3 lakh square km. The region, comprising Vietnam and its neighbors Laos and Cambodia, is called Indochina. From 1862 to World War II, Vietnam was a colony of France. 1940 to 1945 Japan occupied it. Acute exploitation led to severe famine in 1945 that killed 2 million people. Ho Chi Minh filled every citizen with unprecedented urge for freedom and courage. Viet Minh, a progressive organization led by him, carried valiant struggle against the Japanese. After the defeat of Japan in World War II, Viet Minh came to power for a brief period. Subsequently France reoccupied it. In 1946, Viet Minh began guerrilla warfare and forced the French to leave in July 1954. However, through deceit, a separate power center was created in South Vietnam. USA imposed a devastating war on Vietnam. Three million Vietnamese and 60 thousand Americans lost their lives. People fought with unprecedented courage. In 1973, USA had to go back. Ho Chi Minh had passed away in 1969, but this was his and his peoples’ victory.

Early Life

            Ho Chi Minh was born on May 19, 1890 in Hoang Tru, in the north. Nigiun Sunn Hui was his father and Luang his mother. 1905 to 1910, Ho studied in Hoak Hok School in Hui. Afterwards he joined a 3-year course in a French school of trade and industry, in Saigon. However, seeing the second-class behavior towards Vietnamese students, he quit after 3 months and a deep urge for freedom emerged in him. He joined a cargo ship as an assistant to cook. On reaching France he became a member of Human Rights League. In 1914 he started working in a hotel in London. He contacted Overseas Workers Union, met Marxists, visited Marx’s grave and actively participated in Easter Uprising in Ireland. At that time France was involved in World War I. Thousands of Vietnamese were being brought to France for military and civil works. Ho built relations with them.

 

Association of Vietnam Patriots

            In Paris, Ho Chi Minh founded Association of Vietnam Patriots, and became a member of Socialist Party of France. For a living, he worked in a photography shop. He left hatred against the French race and realized the class difference between French owners and French workers. He saw oneness between French and Vietnamese workers. He worked in Inter-Colonial Union’s revolutionary newspaper Le Paria. He also started Vietnam Hon. This newspaper was sent to Vietnamese in other countries as well.

            In 1923 he participated in International Farmers Congress held in Mosco. He was made a member, representing colonized nations, in the Working Committee. Ho felt deeply pained by Lenin’s death on 21 January 1924. He wanted to meet him and discuss several issues.   

 

Towards Home

            In December 1924 Ho Chi Minh reached Kenton (China). He met Chinese leaders and activists. He mobilized Vietnamese youths and students and formed “Vietnamese Revolutionary Youth League”. On February 18, 1930 “Communist Party of Indochina” was formed. Units of the party were formed in the villages of Vietnam. Ho was arrested in Hong Kong. In prison he developed TB. In 1933 he escaped. He activated Viet Minh (Vietnam Freedom League).

            In 1939, World War II began. Japanese army entered into Northern Vietnam. In February 1941 revolts erupted in several places. Ho Chi Minh returned to Vietnam and made his base in Bak Bo village. From there he led the liberation struggle against the French and Japanese. He went to China to gather arms. Chinese arrested him. After his release in 1943 he returned to Vietnam and got into the struggle. Viet Minh created strong bases in Vietnam, more widely in the North.

 

After World War II  

            On May 2, 1945 Italy, May 8 Germany and August 18 Japan surrendered. In Vietnam, Japanese handed over power to ex-king Bao Dai. Ho Chi Minh urged France to accept freedom of Vietnam. On receiving no response, massive demonstrations took place in North Vietnam. On August 23, the King offered to hand over power to Viet Minh. On September 2, a national government was formed with Ho Chi Minh as the President. The government took immediate steps to tackle famine and ended the colonial tax system.

            After the World War, British forces came to South Vietnam, to disarm Japanese and give power to French. In the North, where National Government had been formed, Chinese forces arrived. The British General, on seeing Viet Minh’s influence, armed the French prisoners released by the Japanese, reinforced British forces and took support of the Japanese. Thus, French captured power in South Vietnam.

            The Chinese forces were to leave on March 9, 1946 but by then six French battleships arrived at Hi Fong port. People carried massive demonstrations against it. On March 18, French army entered Hanoi. At the instance of France, Arjan Liu declared South Vietnam a separate nation. On December 19, 1946, France launched a massive attack from land, air and sea on North Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh left the city and built resistance from the villages. Guerilla fighters created liberated zones and marched towards the urban areas controlled by the French. In May 1954, French General D. Castri and his forces laid arms. On July 20, 1954 Geneva Agreement was reached: (1) 17^th parallel line would be the temporary cease fire line between North and South Vietnam; North Vietnam army will stay on its north and French army on its south. (2) Both the parties will neither take military assistance from any country nor would join any military alliance. (3) In July 1956, elections would be held, under international observers, and the task of freedom and unification would be completed.

 

US Intervention  

            In October 1955, Bao Dai government was ousted and Deem government was installed. Heavy arms were brought in and huge army cantonments were established. Ho Chi Minh strove for socialist system in the north and unification in the south. In September 1960, Vietcong (National Liberation Front) was created. On February 1966, US President Linden Johnson launched massive bombings on Vietnam. Villages, cities, schools, factories, hospitals, ports were devastated. In protest hundreds of monks committed self-immolation. Vietcong Guerillas intensified their activities. Ho Chi Minh went to the front where anti-aircraft missiles were installed, inspired people to dig trenches. His office was in a tent underneath a tree.  On December 23, 1966 he wrote to President Johnson: Vietnam is thousands of miles away from USA. It has not caused any harm to America. While USA, after giving assurance in Geneva agreement, has carried open intervention in Vietnam. It has committed war crimes. Five hundred thousand armed men from USA and Allies are on offensive. US planes have dropped millions of tons of bombs on North Vietnam. … If USA is serious about dialogue, it must unconditionally stop the bombardment, and all war activities. We will never accept to talk under the threat of bombardment.”

            In the new year, Vietcong Guerillas intensified attacks on US targets, destroyed hundreds of airplanes and put oil storages on fire. Strong voices started emerging in USA against the war. On November 1, 1968, the USA declared to stop the bombings. It also conceded Ho Chi Minh’s demand to include Viet Kong in dialogue.

On September 4, 1969, at 9:45 AM, Ho Chi Minh suffered a massive heart attack and passed away, after bringing Vietnam to the door of freedom. On March 29, 1973, the last troop of US quit Vietnam and the country was united.