Writer of the Song of Nguyen Tat Thanh University passed away
Writer of the Song of Nguyen Tat Thanh University passed away
The poet Hải Như, birth-name Vũ Như Hải, was born in 1923, in Nam Dương Village, Nam Trực District, Nam Định Province. Brought up in a family with the tradition of high education. His fourth great grand-farther was Vũ Trọng Uy, Senior Bachelor of the year of 1870, who was a District Chief of Cấm Khê, Phú Thọ. In 1942, he went to Đỗ Hữu Vị College of Pedagogy, Hanoi. Before 1945, he joined the revolutionaries in the Association of National Alphabet (Hội truyền bá Quốc ngữ) in Hanoi. In 1946, he joined the military, revolutionary journalism course, which was named after Huỳnh Thúc Kháng, in Việt Bắc base. In 1948, he was in charge of Sông Lô newspaper office as secretary, later transferred to Vệ Quốc Quân (Patriotic Army) newspaper. After 1954, he worked as editor of art department in Cứu Quốc newspaper, deputy-editor-in-chief in Giác Ngộ newspaper (HCMC).
Poet who wrote the most poems of uncle Hồ
Renounced for his poems of Ho Chi Minh (more than 40 poems written after the death of Ho Chi Minh), he had very distinguished style and could not be mistaken with others; regardless of any difficulty he created his own path because he believed that he must strive “not to simply write but to write long-lived poems”. The will that helped him on that path was created by poetic power of a poet. Though not having met Ho Chi Minh, he depicted Uncle Ho in his poems very humane, escaped from his shadow of a great leader yet full of noble virtues. With the pages about Uncle Ho, Hải Như also wanted to deliver messages about his time, of Vietnamese people. office as secretary, later transferred to Vệ Quốc Quân (Patriotic Army) newspaper. After 1954, he worked as editor of art department in Cứu Quốc newspaper, deputy-editor-in-chief in Giác Ngộ newspaper (HCMC).
Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (left) and Poet Hải Như at Prime Minister’s private home, 2016
He had many poems that had been set to music, more than 100 songs. His poems were lyrical, romantic yet modern, free; unrestrained by the law of poem still yet pholosophical; greatly humanistic yet nonforcible.
Besides having over 40 poems of Uncle Ho, the poet wrote many articles about wars and the unconditional love for his homeland. Some said Hải Như had chosen a distinct writing style; independent thinking, with keen, delicate observation had created his unique path in poetry. His poems didn’t praise one way, but always sought for the truth even when it was opposite to others’ opinions. Especially, his poems were set to music, namely “Thành phố hoa phượng đỏ”, “Hà Nội thành phố của niềm tin”, “Hoa trong vườn Bác”, by many song writers.
Hải Như’s outstading work:
- Trái đất mai này còn lại tình yêu, Văn học Publisher, 1985
- Nỗi buồn hoa bất tử, Lao động Publisher, 1994
- Thơ viết về Người, Nghệ An Publisher, 2004
- Predestined path to Nguyễn Tất Thành University
As prestigious poet who had the most poem of Uncle Ho among the Vietnamese poets, Hải Như seemed to understand the wish of our beloved leader. Uncle Ho wished not only independence but also fulfilled life and literacy for the people. In a business trip to Ho Chi Minh City, when visiting Nhà Rồng Harbour, where Uncle Ho had begun finding a path to save his people, where a street was named after Nguyễn Tất Thành, Hải Như had a conversation with Mr. Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng (currently Principal of Nguyễn Tất Thành University) about establishing a school named after Uncle Ho at this historic place.
Hải Như wrote lyrics for the Song of Nguyễn Tất Thành University as a gift to the university
And nearly 100 years after the day Uncle Ho had begun finding a path to save his people, by the riverside of Sài Gòn river, by the old Nhà Rồng Harbour, a school named after the youth name of Uncle Ho – Nguyễn Tất Thành University – was established. Though not a shareholder, Hải Như was the co-founder of Nguyễn Tất Thành University, and was extremely happy to know that his aspiration had come true and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng, who he gave his trust, had not disappointed him with establishing a university, with a unique trademark and name written on the map of Vietnamese and International education, which was the first non-public university in Southern Vietnam region to be recognized by The Ministry of Education and Training and British QS Stars Organization.
He also wrote the lyrics for the Song of Nguyễn Tất Thành University, the resonance of the lyrics and the music of song writer Trương Quang Lục had made an epic song of a school named after Unlce Ho. With the contributions to the Vietnamese poetry in general and the development of Nguyễn Tất Thành University in specific, though having gone far away Hải Như still lives in everyone’s hearts.
Author: Phượng Nguyễn
Photos: collecting
