Roundtable Discussion on the legacy of Ho Chi Minh: A great friend of India
Date :: 17th December 2018

Roundtable Discussion on the legacy of Ho Chi Minh: A great friend of India

Centre for Vietnam Studies, New Delhi in association with Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University organised a Roundtable Discussion on the Legacy of Ho Chi Minh on 17th December 2018.

The roundtable discussion was observed to celebrate the 60th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s State visit to India in 1958, where he met his all-weather friend Prime Minister Jawarharlal Nehru. Speakers and panelists at the discussion highlighted the historical and contemporary trends of India-Vietnam relations, with special mention given to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with a strong bilateral relationship based on mutual trust, understanding, convergence of views and ideas as well as strong cooperation in regional and multilateral levels.

The welcome remarks for this occasion were given by Shri Ajay Patnaik, Dean, School of International Studies, JNU. He welcomed the Roundtable Discussion which aims to focus on the historic visit of President Ho Chi Minh to India and how the legacy of Ho Chi Minh as a nationalist leader inspired the struggle for freedom in India.

The Special Address for the discussion was H.E Mr. Pham Sanh Chau, Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. He highlighted the fact that it was Prime Minster Narendra Modi’s initiative that elevated the 60 years old India-Vietnam relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which is an added milestone to the already existing relationship. He also mentioned that India and Vietnam are natural friends because both the nations have a lot in common, not only in culture but also in values.

The Special invitee remarks were given by H.E. Mr. Pham Vu Hong, Chairman, People’s Committee of Kien Giang province, Vietnam. He stressed on the fact that how the relationship between India and Vietnam, as laid down by Ho Chi Minh and Nehru, strengthened the close attachment amongst people of both the nations.

Another special Invitee for the occasion was Colonel Sanjiv Sethi, Director, Southern Division, Ministry of External Affairs. He explained that the emergence of the Asian Century also facilitated the closer relationship between India and Vietnam. India’s bilateral partnership with Vietnam not only left an impact on the country’s leaders but also in very household of India. In this context, the initiative taken by Nehru and Ho Chi Minh should always be given a priority.

The two panelists for the roundtable discussion were Professor Baladas Ghoshal and Dr. Ash Narain Roy. Professor Ghoshal reiterated how the blend of three factors, that is history, ideology and pragmatism, shaped the Vietnamese nationalism, which helped in instilling the feeling of patriotism amongst the people of Vietnam. He also explained how pragmatic was Ho Chi Minh as a leader, and how he geared up and designed his strategies to free his country from foreign regime.

Dr. Roy specially mentioned that people across the world have got largely inspired by Ho Chi Minh and his revolutionary styles as well as his simple way of living. His simplicity is sometimes compared to that of Mahatma Gandhi’s way of living. Dr. Roy also glorified the freedom struggle of Vietnam because Vietnam being a relatively smaller nation could achieve what sometimes bigger nations cannot.

Also present in the discussion were Heads of Missions from different Embassies in New Delhi and they shared with thoughts on Ho Chi Minh. Scholars, students and media person were amongst the other who attended the discussion.

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