Introduction
To Huu (born Nguyen Kim Thanh) was born in 1920 in Quang Tho commune, Quang Dien district, Thua Thien Hue province, into a family with a revolutionary tradition. He is known as a prominent poet of Vietnamese revolutionary poetry and a senior leader on the Party's ideological and cultural front.
Early years and turning point
Orphaned of his mother early, at age 13 he entered the Quoc Hoc School in Hue, which nurtured his poetic soul and revolutionary ideals. At 16, he joined the Communist Youth Union and became a leader of the Democratic Youth Union in Hue. In 1937, he joined the Indochinese Communist Party. His poem Tu ay (From That Time) was written during this period, marking the meeting of youthful aspirations and revolutionary ideals.
Imprisonment and secret activities
In April 1939, he was arrested by the French colonialists and held in Thua Phu, Lao Bao, Ban Me Thuot, and Dak Lay prisons. While in prison, he continued to write revolutionary poetry. In March 1942, he escaped to Hue, then went to Hanoi and secretly to Thanh Hoa to rebuild revolutionary bases. In 1945, he served as Chairman of the Thua Thien Hue Uprising Committee. From 1947, he was assigned to Viet Bac, in charge of cultural and literary work in the Propaganda Department.
Leadership career and ideological work
From the 1950s, he participated in the Party Central Committee and the Secretariat (1958-1980), and was a member of the Politburo from 1976 to 1986. He held many responsibilities: Head of the Propaganda Department, Head of the Science and Education Department, Head of the Reunification Department, Head of the Agriculture Department, Director of the Nguyen Ai Quoc Party School, and Standing Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers. Propaganda, ideological, and cultural work was his long-term, main field of activity with many contributions.
Poetic career
To Huu's poetic path was tied to the nation's revolutionary struggle, through collections: Tu ay, Viet Bac, Gio long, Ra tran, Mau va hoa. His poetry portrayed brave youths like Luom, the devotion of Vietnamese Heroic Mothers in Bam oi, Ba Bu, Ba me Viet Bac, Me Tom, Me Suot, Ba ma Hau Giang, and outstanding figures such as heroes Tran Thi Ly and Nguyen Van Troi. He is also known for poems about the Party and President Ho Chi Minh.
Honors
He was honored as the poet of the revolution, the poet of the people, and the fighting flag of revolutionary poetry. He was awarded the Gold Star Order and the Ho Chi Minh Prize. In his 82 years of life, he had nearly 70 years of unceasing revolutionary activity.