President Ho Chi Minh welcomed Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on the occasion of Jawaharlal Nehru's visit to Vietnam, on October 17, 1954. (Photo: VNA)

What do you think about President Ho Chi Minh?

President Ho Chi Minh left a huge legacy of peace and friendship among peoples. One of them is the Vietnam-India relations that are maintained, inherited, and developed with respect by the two countries.

The first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru was a close friend of President Ho Chi Minh. Nehru always watched and offered enthusiastic and valuable support to the struggle for independence of the Vietnamese people. He condemned the British government's use of the Indian army to help the French colonialists invade Vietnam. He banned French military aircraft from using Indian airports en route to Vietnam. He participated in campaigns to restore peace in Indochina and end the invasion of the French colonialists. He was also the first distinguished guest to visit Hanoi a week after the Democratic Republic of Vietnam's capital was liberated. Nehru and Ho Chi Minh laid the foundation for a strong friendship between India and Vietnam.

During his 10-day visit to India, President Ho Chi Minh and the delegation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam's Government held many talks with the Indian Government. They visited many production facilities, did research, and interacted with the working classes in many localities, talking with the press, and the Association of Indians studying international issues... The talks between Ho Chi Minh and Indian leaders have yielded many good results, deepening the friendly relationship between the two countries and it contributing to strengthening solidarity, peace, and friendship among peoples in Asia and around the world.

President Ho Chi Minh's visit left an indelible impression in the hearts of the Indian people. He has captured the hearts of Indians of all ages and classes, with his gentleness, friendliness, and humility. Thousands of Indians poured down the streets to welcome him when his car passed. Many cried to see him.

In 1947, on the 21 of January, our students went and destroyed the Calcutta airport because the French planes were taking petrol from Calcutta to come over and bomb Vietnam. The students destroyed those facilities. Three were killed by the British police. That was the beginning of our solidarity, which was written in the blood.

Every university or every college in India was a solidarity center with the people of Vietnam. We all came up to support Vietnam. From that moment this slogan came: "My name, your name, Vietnam, Vietnam," which vibrated the entire India.

What can we learn from the life and career of President Ho Chi Minh, sir?

In 1958, President Ho Chi Minh visited India. A guest room in the Government office was prepared for him to stay, but he wanted to share a room with a normal staff at the Government office. Indians remember that story and very much respect him.

Many stories about his life and career are spread throughout India. From that, I learned some lessons from him.

First of all, to be strong enough to identify the policies of the colonized.

Second, to trust in the people that they are the master of everything, even your liberation.

Third, a communist should be simple in his behavior and in his lifestyle so that you can earn the trust of people.

The India - Vietnam Solidarity Committee offers flowers at the Monument of President Ho Chi Minh in Kolkata, India on Vietnam's National Day, September 2, 2022. (Photo: India - Vietnam Solidarity Committee)

How do you assess the influence of President Ho Chi Minh?

I think Ho Chi Minh does not only belong to Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh belongs to all of us who have a dream of living in an independent country, having a very good life, in a peaceful atmosphere, against any kind of aggression, discrimination, and everything. Ho Chi Minh is a symbol of peace, independence, sovereignty, and social progress. He is an ultimately motivated person for the establishment of socialism with a different character in different countries. We are very much inspired by him.

In India, Ho Chi Minh’s birthday, the 19^th of May, is celebrated in a big way. In our city, Kolkata, there is a Ho Chi Minh statue also. When our left parties got elected as mayor of Kolkata, the first thing they did was change the name of a route to Ho Chi Minh in expression of solidarity with the Vietnamese people.

So Ho Chi Minh cannot be a monopoly of the Vietnamese people. Ho Chi Minh's idea, his theory, and his whole life have to be followed by every revolutionary if they really want to be such revolutionary.

I think his life itself is a big motivation for us to fight for social justice in our countries. We always raise the slogan “Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh, we shall fight, we shall win.” It means if you follow Ho Chi Minh's theory and practice and his life, definitely you will get the motivation to fight and it will be guaranteed to win. This is how we see the life and struggle of President Ho Chi Minh.

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