Journalist Thai Duy – A lifetime of “living and writing” for the people

1. I often come to him as if "on schedule" on every occasion of commemorating an important event of the country in the role of a historical witness on many fronts.

To me, he is a special journalist because of his life of special dedication to his noble profession! He has never held any position but is a respected name in the journalism community. Throughout his journalism career, journalist Thai Duy has always fought tirelessly for national independence and freedom, for the happiness of the people and for the cause of innovation in Vietnam...

Leaders of the Vietnam Journalists Association, journalist Thai Duy and delegates visit the exhibition on journalist Thai Duy - Living and Writing. Photo: Son Hai

Journalist Thai Duy's real name is Tran Duy Tan, born in 1926 in Bac Giang. He has another famous pen name, Tran Dinh Van, with the work "Living like Anh". He also published a number of other books such as: "The prisoner of the big prison", "Hai Phong hero", "Renovation in Vietnam - remembering and contemplating", "Illegal contracting or death"...

In 2020, among the 7 outstanding veteran journalists honored at the Conference "Meeting and Commending Outstanding Journalists" for their great contributions, dedication and affection, and contributions to the Vietnamese revolutionary press, Mr. Thai Duy was the only one who had never held any position. Throughout his life, he had only one title: Journalist Thai Duy.

In the midst of my overwhelming emotions, I thought back to the conversation with him 2 years ago, journalist Thai Duy told us about his first years as a reporter, talking about his great teacher Nam Cao - the one who introduced him to the profession, he said very simply: "Thanks to Mr. Nam Cao, I became a reporter, otherwise I would have been promoted to team leader, deputy team leader, and even promoted..." The respect and love for the profession of a person who has reached a rare age, with tens of thousands of articles in his career, is truly touching.

It can be said that journalist Thai Duy has a unique feature that is not easy to find in the journalism world. He only worked for one newspaper his whole life, only held one position as a reporter, but in every period he had famous works that affected the whole country and had issues that became national policies. With only a normal journalist title, he was received by President Ho Chi Minh, attended the Asian and African Writers Conference in Beijing, was welcomed by Chinese President Mao Zedong, was welcomed by President Fidel Castro and the country of Cuba, was respected by his colleagues, and farmers considered him as their relatives...

Not everyone knows the special thing about journalist Thai Duy because when participating in the propaganda front, he is always the pioneer, but when talking about himself, he is always quiet and retreats to the back. Perhaps that is why in journalism, he is always at the top, not the top of fame and fortune, but the top of the information "hot spots" fronts, the top of the respect of colleagues.

2. With the pen name Thai Duy when writing for newspapers, Tran Dinh Van when writing; his works not only created positive social changes in the country but also resonated far in the international arena. Therefore, journalist Nguyen Duc Loi - Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Journalists Association once commented: "Living is writing, writing is living. Thai Duy's entire life as a journalist is the life of a person who strives tirelessly, without faltering to "Fight against what is old and corrupt to create new and fresh things" as Uncle Ho advised in his Will".

Some articles on agricultural contracts by Journalist Thai Duy. Photo: Vietnam Press Museum

Journalist Thai Duy joined the Cuu Quoc Newspaper in 1949. In early 1964, he and the leaders of the Cuu Quoc Newspaper went to the South to establish the Liberation Newspaper (under the National Liberation Front of the South). During this period, he completed a number of outstanding works such as “Living like an Englishman”, “The Prisoner of the Great Prison”, “The Comrades of Nguyen Van Troi”…

Among them, “Living like an Englishman” was serialized in newspapers and first published in the Literature Publishing House in July 1965 in three hundred and two thousand copies, with Uncle Ho’s preface, and was then continuously reprinted in millions of copies. Up to now, no book in Vietnam has surpassed that record. “Living like an Englishman” has created a strong wave throughout the country, raising a movement to follow the example of Anh Troi in competing in production and fighting the enemy…

It can be said that during the glorious 90-year journey of the Vietnam National United Front, journalist Thai Duy witnessed and participated in many important stages as a reporter for the Front newspaper, always present and at the forefront of many of the hottest events. During his time working for the Cuu Quoc newspaper in the Viet Bac resistance base, he participated in most of the historical campaigns, he was present right at the battlefield throughout the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. Later, he also worked as a reporter in the Southern battlefield and also had years as a war correspondent in the Lao Front...

After the country's reunification, journalist Thai Duy continued to pioneer with the most thorny topics raised in social life during the years when the country implemented the subsidy regime with new premonitions about people's lives... Through his pen, he continued to fight strongly in the cause of new contracts. "Illegal contracts or death" was also written by him from vivid reality, contributing to renewing thinking, encouraging effective ways to help people overcome difficulties and challenges to rise up.

Journalist Cao Kim (Kim Toan) - former Editor-in-Chief of Hai Phong Newspaper commented: "Liberation reporters were present in many localities, many different regions, and in battles. They were war reporters who not only participated in the war as historical witnesses but also recreated history with their own pens. One of the pioneers, most prominently, was journalist Thai Duy... up to now, no journalist has had as many published journalistic works as journalist Thai Duy".

3. Journalist Thai Duy has just passed away at the age of 99, peacefully, but leaving behind endless sorrow for his family and colleagues. Many colleagues mentioned him, as if they still missed him, as if they were grateful for a life of dedication, for both talent and virtue! Because journalist Thai Duy is a shining example for current journalists, especially young journalists. He is a simple, courageous person, possessing the moral qualities of a true journalist.

Journalist Thai Duy with funny and meaningful career stories

Poet and journalist Huu Viet (Head of the Culture and Arts Department, Nhan Dan Newspaper) - a close friend of journalist Thai Duy's family - once asked journalist Thai Duy why he did not write. He confessed that it was because he wanted to devote all his time and mind to reaching out to the people according to the ideals of journalism. How could one not respect a journalist with such a bright mind?

“Throughout his life as a writer, the people that Thai Duy wanted to protect the most, wanted them to have a better life, wanted the country's leaders to listen to them the most, were the people. His ideal of journalism was to turn to the people. Journalist Thai Duy once said: “The people are the greatest, without the people there is nothing, there is no Innovation...” - poet and journalist Huu Viet confided.

Journalist Tran Kim Hoa - In charge of the Vietnam Press Museum, upon hearing the news of his passing, was moved to express: "I deeply regret Mr.! He came to revolutionary journalism with love and ideals, and devoted his whole life to freedom and justice! The roads of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign that day bore his footprints; the Truong Son roads 60 years ago bore his footprints! From National Salvation to Liberation, and later joining Dai Doan Ket, he was always a daring writer, a name trusted and awaited by colleagues and the public! The green fields of his hometown Bac Giang, and the vast fields and banks of Vinh Phu, Hai Phong will forever remember the story "Illegal contracting or death" that journalist Thai Duy spent part of his life fighting for! I love him! I respect him! A talent, a personality! All his life he always WRITE THE WORD DAN IN CAPITAL LETTERS, all his life he was only a reporter, refusing all positions and false titles. All his life he lived and wrote according to his wishes "To be a journalist is to respect the truth and write the truth!"

It can be said that journalist Thai Duy is a special journalist with a simple and sincere philosophy of life, always believing that journalists need to write honestly and respect nothing but the truth. With the ideal of journalism being oriented towards the people... journalist Thai Duy's journalistic works are not only sharp evidence from reality, fiery fighting, courageous sacrifice but also theoretical, educational for today's and future generations. He will forever be a beautiful monument in the hearts of colleagues of all generations and the public nationwide. Respectfully farewell to him!

Ha Van

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nha-bao-thai-duy-tron-ven-mot-doi-song-va-viet-vi-dan-post291860.html