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| Professor Mach Quang Thang commented that the lessons and values of the August Revolution in 1945 will last forever. (Source: NVCC) |
Prof. Mach Quang Thang, former Head of the Department of Science Management of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, former Senior Lecturer of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, emphasized the values and lessons that the August Revolution left behind, especially in today's era.
Lessons in building great solidarity
How do you evaluate the change in people's ideology and culture after the August Revolution?
The August Revolution of 1945 changed our country greatly. The most fundamental change was that the “colonial and feudal” society was abolished, and a new society was born, a society ruled by the people with a democratic republican government. The phrase “colonial and feudal” used by President Ho Chi Minh in his work “Common political knowledge” (1953) is different from what many people often call a “semi-feudal colonial” society.
Before the French invasion, our country was an independent feudal monarchy. France established its ruling regime and established “French Indochina”. Since then, Vietnam lost its country and its name on the world map. The French bourgeoisie should have abolished the Vietnamese feudal regime, but France maintained the Nguyen Dynasty feudal regime as its lackeys. France ruled Vietnam from 1858 until the night of March 9, 1945, when Japan staged a successful coup and monopolized its rule. The Vietnamese people overthrew the rule of Japanese fascists and abolished feudalism, establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. This was a qualitative change in a society, a major change that only happened in our country after thousands of years.
The victory of the August Revolution helped the people from being slaves to becoming masters of the country. This was a great transformation – completely changing the human condition. The ideology and culture of the Vietnamese people from this moment were transferred to an unprecedented position.
What lessons learned from the August Revolution are still valuable today, sir?
In my opinion, there are two biggest lessons: one is to build and promote the strength of national unity, combining national strength with international strength. Two is to focus on building the Party to fulfill its responsibility of leading the entire people to seize the opportunity to carry out a general uprising to seize power.
If we cannot build a great unity bloc at this time, as shown in the Viet Minh Front, we cannot win, no matter how favorable the international conditions are. If the people's hearts are "divided into five or seven parts", then we cannot talk about strength. If our internal strength is weak, how can we combine it with international strength? Our nation, naturally and in accordance with the law, has given the responsibility to the Party to lead the struggle for national independence. That leadership role has been tested and experienced through the fires of struggle in the following periods: 1930-1931 with the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement being a typical example; 1932-1935 with the spectacular recovery of Party organizations from the enemy's brutal sieges and terror; then 1936-1939 with the excitement of the democratic front demanding freedom, food, clothing, and peace, followed by the climax of standing with the Allies against Japanese fascism.
In my opinion, those two lessons are still valuable not only today but forever. I am sure that they are the key to the victory of the Vietnamese revolution in every era. In today's era, any organization or individual who possesses this "treasure" will develop further.
Faced with the challenges of the times with the strong development of digital technology, what should we do to preserve and promote the values that the August Revolution brought?
The world is still “spinning like a potter’s wheel”. But now, it is changing rapidly, containing many unpredictable factors. Looking at the whole picture, we see that a peaceful and cooperative world is still the major trend.
Faced with such rapidly changing and unpredictable challenges, the August Revolution has “anchored” us with eternal values, which are peace, friendship, cooperation, and solidarity for a bright goal of the progressive civilization of the nation and humanity. Let us live together in harmony and cooperate for mutual benefit. Let us work for the common goal of the sustainable development of the nation and humanity. Everyone has their own interests, but the highest, most common interest, the one that gathers strength, is the interest of the entire nation. The victory of the August Revolution was due to the fact that this value was “activated” and developed.
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| The bustling August days in the capital Hanoi. (Source: VNA) |
Light the fire of responsibility
According to you, what is the significance of the August Revolution for today's young generation?
This revolution has brought generations of Vietnamese people great and beautiful values, so let's cherish it as we cherish our lives. Not only that, we must also stand up to do great things, turning the values of independence, freedom and socialism of the August Revolution into reality.
Young people are the ones who know how to add and multiply past values, embedding them into the future so that our country can be strong and stand shoulder to shoulder with the world powers. The August Revolution only has lasting significance when there is such a continuation from young people.
Do you have any advice on educating the younger generation about revolutionary traditions, the meaning of August 19 and instilling patriotism in them?
Irish poet and playwright Wiliam Butler Yeats once said: “Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.”
Yes, it is the fire of intelligence, humanity, patriotism – the fire of responsibility in young people. In education, there is traditional education. Young people should have a proactive mindset, actively absorb the tradition of the August Revolution. In many ways, in many different forms, not just reading in books, in news on the media. The “common denominator” of that mindset is patriotism.
If you have love for your country, everything you do will be beneficial to your country and, more broadly, to the civilization and progress of humanity. If you have love for your country and that love is nurtured through your daily good deeds, one by one, every second, every minute, every day, then your country will become stronger and stronger, and the future will become brighter and brighter.
What role do today's youth play in building and developing the country?
The youth are the backbone of the country - I "borrow" the words of the great national hero and outstanding culturalist Ho Chi Minh. I have high expectations, expectations based on theory and practice. Taking the image of Olympia, I hope they will be the ones standing on the podium to receive the Gold Medal and the "Marching Song" will be played. Not only are they on the podium, but we are standing below, looking up at the red flag with a yellow star that is slowly raised, singing the majestic national anthem with them.
Thanks GS!
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