The life of poet Nguyen Dinh Chieu is a source of inspiration for humanity.

Mr. Christian Manhart, UNESCO Representative in Vietnam, speaking at the Workshop. (Photo: Huynh Phuc Hau/VNA)

Continuing the program of the international scientific conference “Celebrity Nguyen Dinh Chieu in the present era”, on the afternoon of June 29, many monographs and essays by leading scientists at home and abroad affirmed that Nguyen Dinh Chieu was a great poet, a good teacher, and a virtuous physician. Nguyen Dinh Chieu from the land of Coconut in Ben Tre province has stepped out into the world, a celebrity whose 200th birthday was celebrated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

UNESCO Chief Representative in Vietnam Christian Manhart informed that at the 41st UNESCO General Assembly meeting held in Paris in November 2021, 193 UNESCO member countries unanimously passed a resolution that UNESCO will participate in celebrating the birthday of author Nguyen Dinh Chieu in 2022.

The UNESCO Representative in Vietnam explained that the UNESCO General Assembly made this decision because author Nguyen Dinh Chieu is an outstanding figure, one of the most honored Vietnamese poets and has had his works translated into many languages.

"His philosophies of peace, love for humanity and tolerance are completely in line with the philosophy and goals of UNESCO. Moreover, he was also an excellent teacher, who devoted his whole life to spreading knowledge, and this is also a mission of UNESCO: the mission of Education. In addition, Nguyen Dinh Chieu was also a great physician with a profound vision in saving people. Besides, he is also a hope for people with disabilities because he achieved success even when he was blind. This shows that the life story of poet Nguyen Dinh Chieu is a source of inspiration not only for the Vietnamese people but also for all of humanity.

Dr. Bui Long - Guangxi Academy of Arts, People's Republic of China, commented that Nguyen Dinh Chieu is a poet who plays an important role in inheriting the ancestors and passing on to future generations in the historical process of Vietnamese literature from ancient to modern times.

Nguyen Dinh Chieu's entire life was a combination of tireless work ethic and indomitable patriotism. Despite difficult circumstances, poverty, and illness, he devoted all his heart, energy, and spirit to the cause of education, medicine, and literary creation.

Through research, Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Lan Oanh - Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Arts has pointed out the influence of Nguyen Dinh Chieu from the aspect of his life and works on the cultural and artistic life, influencing the lifestyle of Ben Tre people in particular, and Southern people in general over the past 200 years. With the perspective of analyzing the position and contributions of Nguyen Dinh Chieu in the history and culture of the South and the history and culture of Vietnam from the second half of the 19th century to the present, Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Lan Oanh proposed solutions to preserve and promote the cultural heritage value of the cultural celebrity Nguyen Dinh Chieu.

Accordingly, it is necessary to turn the mausoleum and memorial house into a destination in the tour of cultural celebrities and national historical relics; continue to conduct research on Nguyen Dinh Chieu to preserve and promote the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the celebrity. At the same time, strengthen the promotion of the value of cultural celebrity Nguyen Dinh Chieu to the public at home and abroad; strengthen the teaching and learning of Nguyen Dinh Chieu's works; apply information technology, digitize the cultural heritage of Nguyen Dinh Chieu.

Secretary of Ben Tre Provincial Party Committee Le Duc Tho emphasized that Nguyen Dinh Chieu's life was full of hardships, but with a bright mind, high aspirations, poor but not weak or pathetic; he always showed his bravery, rising up to overcome adversity. Faced with the loss of his country and broken home, unable to hold a gun or a sword to kill the enemy, he volunteered to use his pen to compose poetry and literature to "carry the religion" and "eliminate evil", considering this a salvation to encourage the spirit of the soldiers and the people.

Delegates visit the work presented by Mr. Nguyen Dinh Chieu in calligraphy. (Photo: Huynh Phuc Hau/VNA)

Not only that, he also used medical skills to help the people and the country in times of turmoil. He fought tirelessly with immortal declarations left for humanity. For the Southern region, especially Ben Tre province - a land rich in historical, cultural and revolutionary traditions, Nguyen Dinh Chieu is a typical example for generations of Ben Tre people in particular, the Southern region and the whole country in general in terms of human morality, patriotism and indomitable will.

Despite many historical upheavals and ups and downs, the image of Nguyen Dinh Chieu and his works of preaching, eliminating evil, and praising heroic peasants for the country are still deeply imprinted in the hearts of the people of the whole country. Secretary of the Ben Tre Provincial Party Committee Le Duc Tho expressed that the Party Committee and people of Ben Tre hope that UNESCO, UNESCO member countries, the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO and central ministries, departments and branches of Vietnam, international and Vietnamese scientists will continue to accompany and support the activities to preserve and promote the values ​​of cultural heritage and poetry of the famous person Nguyen Dinh Chieu worthy of the noble title recognized and honored at the international level; at the same time, it is proposed to organize at the State level in even and round years according to current regulations on the birthday of the cultural celebrity Nguyen Dinh Chieu.

According to VNA