Activists in arts and literature show tearful grief for people’s cultural figure

On July 19, millions of Vietnamese shed their tears to the death of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Before his last breath, activists of Binh Duong in the field of arts and literature expressed their greatest condolescence to bid farewell to a person of greatness who had devoted all his life to the nation and for the people.

The illuminated portrait

Throughout various positions entrusted by the Party, State, and people, during the entire working process, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong had always been mentioned as a leader who is honest, clean, devoting all his enthusiasm and responsibility to the people, to the country, and to the revolutionary cause of the nation. For literature and art, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong had shown great interest, expectations, and placed high hopes on the development of the country's literature and art. He is a leader who is loved and respected by artists. The departure of the General Secretary from this life had left an infinite sadness in all layers of the people, and the artists have truly been touched and deeply moved by sincere and profound emotions.

Sharing on social media with paintings about General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, artist Nguyen Viet Thang has inspired his students to express their love and admiration for a talented leader, a great personality of Vietnam. Thang's art class has been more vibrant these days, as through the media, the students also share the deep sorrow for the departure of General Secretary.

The junior artists of Binh Duong draw the portrait of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong

Share with us, I am Le Nguyen Cat Tuong, a student of Phu Hoa 1 Primary School (Thu Dau Mot City), let me tell you that with respect to General Secretary, I have been guided by Teacher Viet Thang to draw a portrait of President Nguyen Phu Trong with fresh lotus flowers and the words "Dignity is the most sacred and noblest". Beside Cat Tuong, many other students have also drawn portraits of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong with the sacred feelings that they feel for a simple, humble, and close leader who resembles a fragrant lotus in life.

Exchanging with us, artist Viet Thang sadly said: "I feel my eyes stinging and I realize that I am crying, crying for my love for you. It will never be enough to talk about your dedication, contributions, and virtues. I hope that, as the younger generation of the country, we can emulate and learn from you, and contribute our small part to building our homeland," artist Viet Thang added.

The revered cultural activist of the people

In deep sorrow for the loss of a leader, a great cultural figure of the nation, writer Kim Ngoan (member of the Provincial Literature and Arts Association), deeply moved shares that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's departure leaves behind countless regrets for the whole country, including artists in Binh Duong province. During his lifetime, alongside the busy concerns for the country's major issues, the General Secretary still showed deep interest in the field of culture and arts. His words of advice to the artistic community still remain: "As long as there is culture, the nation will exist", "Artists must have great aspirations".

A great heart has stopped beating, but your noble ideals still remain, shining a light for artists on the path of creation, the path to the values of "truth, goodness, beauty". Remembering you, the artists of Binh Duong are even more determined on the path of cultural development, so that art is always connected to the traditions of the nation.

Share with us the stories from my hometown in Hanoi, musician Pham Minh Thuan (a member of the Provincial Literature and Art Association) said that at the National Cultural Conference in 2021, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong delivered a very profound speech. During the sharing process, the General Secretary paused many times to read poetry. The General Secretary is a person with a high cultural level in both theory and practice, showing simplicity and depth in every thought and action.

According to the musician, the departure of the General Secretary has left an infinite sorrow in our people inside and outside the country. With infinite sorrow for the outstanding child of the Vietnamese nation, the excellent leader of the Party, the steadfast communist, the role model who dedicated his whole life to the revolutionary cause, building and defending the Fatherland, composer Pham Minh Thuan has set music to the poem "Farewell to Myself" to express the feelings of the General Secretary's first lady.

Artists in Binh Duong always remember the care and concern of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong for the Party, the nation, and the cultural sector. We are all proud of a General Secretary who is a great cultural figure, an exemplary model in cultural practice, and a leader who wholeheartedly works for the development of Vietnam's advanced culture, rich in national identity.

Reported by Minh Hieu – Translated by Vi Bao