Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh had been a household name in India, particularly in Kolkata between 1945 and 1975. This was the period when Vietnam was engaged in its fierce fight for liberation of its fatherland from the French colonialists, Japanese fascists and US imperialists.
During Vietnam’s 30 years’ long liberation war, the people of India in general and of West Bengal in particular, extended their wholehearted solidarity, moral and material support to the valiant and patriotic people of Vietnam. Almost all political parties of India, intellectuals, students, particularly those of Calcutta University did not only organize demonstrations but even dared to face the bullets of the British rulers in 1946 also.
It reminds me that the people of Kolkata had observed 19th January 1947 as Vietnam Day and on 21st January 1947 thousands of students had defied Section 144 and demonstrated in a huge procession taken out from Calcutta University campus. Police resorted to lathi charge and then firing to disperse the students’ assembly. Dhir Ranjan Sen of the City College and Sukhendu Biswas of City School were the victims of police bullets in front of Senate Hall (where Centenary Hall is located today) and the third student Rana Mitra Sen received a bullet injury in his leg. Such was the emotional involvement of people of Kolkata with the heroic struggle of Vietnam.
In fact, people of Kolkata were so emotional and identified themselves with Vietnam that during a demonstration they coined the slogan – Tomar naam Vietnam, Amar namm Vietnam, Somebody added – name of freedom Vietnam, others added – Name of liberation Vietnam, and in this way this poetic slogan gained phenomenal popularity.
During the liberation struggle of Vietnam, several poets wrote songs using this slogan and those were sung in various meetings and rallies.
In 1947, a French fighter plane landed ad Dum Dum airport for refueling on its way to Vietnam, The people of Kolkata were so agitated at this that the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had to declare that the plane had landed without the permission of the Government of India and that the Government would not grant refueling facility to French fighter planes in future.
There is another incident that depicts the emotional involvement of the people of Kolkata with Vietnam. The Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University had invited Mc Namara, the then US Defence Secretary, who was responsible for genocide in Vietnam. There was great resentment among the people of Kolkata, more so among the students who barricaded the Calcutta University in such a manner that even with the help of police force, Mc Namara could not reach the venue. Eventually, the programme had to be cancelled.
A Unique incident of its kind took place on 19th May 1970, when thousands of youth and students expressed their anguish regarding the brutal US aggression on Vietnam shouting full throated slogan - “ Hands off Vietnam”, in front of the American Consulate situated at the then Harrington Street in Central Kolkata. Spontaneously a section of young demonstrators decided to rechristen the name of the street as Ho Chi Minh Sarani, and erased out the old name of the street replacing it with the new one. The writer of these lines was also one among the said demonstrators. The street was rechristened by the people and the new name Ho Chi Minh Sarani was officially approved years later by the Calcutta Municipal Corporation. Kolkata is possible the first city in India where not only a street is christened after Ho Chi Minh but where his bust gifted by the Vietnamese people is also installed in a square near by. It was unveiled in 1999 by none other than the legendary Gen. Giap, the Commander-in-Chief of the Vietnamese Liberation Forces, known as the great strategist who defeated U.S.A., the greatest military power.
When Com. Ho Chi Minh came to India on his first official visit in January 1958, he made it a point to visit Kolkata where he was accorded a tumultuous civic reception. He was introduced to Ranamitra Sen, who was injured in the police firing during the students’ demonstration to express solidarity with the people of Vietnam. Com. Ho rose from his seat to affectionately hug and kiss him.
I still cherish the sight when I had heard Com. Ho Chi Minh speaking with his eyes glittering with the fire of spirit and love for his people. He was a small built great man fighting resolutely against a huge power, a veritable example of the old story a David and Goliath.
The great freedom fighter of Vietnam, Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap, who had become a living legend, visited Kolkata twice. Both the times he was most warmly received by the people of Kolkata, as they were aware that it was due to him that the French had to taste humiliating defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954.
At a special convocation ceremony on 19th January 1991, Bhaskar Nanda Roy Chowdhury, the Vice Chancellor of Calcutta University conferred Hony. Degree on Gen. Giap.
So deep had been the love and emotional bond of people of Kolkata with the Vietnamese people and their indomitable spirit that they not only endured police battons but imprisonments as well.
This writer also shares the emotional bond with the valiant people of Vietnam and it was this bond that had prompted him to participate in few of the demonstrations against the imperialist design of the U.S.
This writer considers himself to be privileged for having seen one of the greatest legendary personalities of the 20th Century Com. Ho Chi Minh in person from a distance and he still cherishes those proud historical moments that aroused in him a great love for Vietnam and its indomitable spirit.
Geetesh Sharma*
* The author is a journalist and the chairman of the India-Vietnam Friendship in West Bengal
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