Ho Chi Minh played pivotal role in defeating foreign domination through pragmatic alliances

By Harsh Thakor*

On May 19th, we mark the 135th anniversary of Ho Chi Minh’s birth. Ho Chi Minh, who passed away in 1969, remains a significant figure in Vietnam’s history and global anti-colonial movements.

Ho Chi Minh is recognized as a key leader and statesman in Vietnam’s struggle for independence. He played a central role in shaping Vietnam’s resistance against colonial and foreign powers, particularly during the Vietnam War. His leadership contributed to Vietnam’s efforts to challenge external domination, inspiring movements worldwide.

Ho’s life reflects his commitment to Vietnam’s independence. Born in 1890, he traveled extensively, engaging with anti-colonial and revolutionary ideas. His experiences abroad, including in France, the Soviet Union, and China, shaped his political ideology and strategies.

Ho’s leadership was rooted in Marxist-Leninist principles, which he adapted to Vietnam’s context. He emphasized national independence and socialism, mobilizing diverse groups, including peasants and workers, to support the revolution. His strategies focused on uniting the Vietnamese people to address issues like land reform and colonial oppression.

Early Life and Political Development

Ho Chi Minh’s early years were marked by exposure to global anti-colonial movements. Working as a cook and waiter in France and London, he interacted with workers and read about revolutionary ideas. In France, he published a newspaper, The Pariah, which circulated among Vietnamese communities.

In the Soviet Union, Ho attended the Communist East Toilers School, where he studied Marxist-Leninist theory. He later attended the Fifth Conference of the Third International in 1924, which influenced his understanding of revolutionary strategies. He criticized the French Communist Party’s focus on urban workers, advocating for a broader approach that included peasants and colonial struggles.

In the 1920s, Ho worked in China, organizing Vietnamese youth and publishing Thanh Nien, a revolutionary newspaper. In 1930, he founded the Indo-Chinese Communist Party in Kowloon, outlining a program for a people’s democratic revolution that prioritized alliances across classes and agrarian reform.

Return to Vietnam and Leadership

In 1942, Ho returned to Vietnam and helped establish the Viet Minh, a guerrilla force aimed at resisting French colonial rule. By the mid-1940s, the Viet Minh had organized local governance structures, addressing issues like land rights, education, and labor conditions. Land rents were reduced, and literacy programs were introduced in many areas.

The 1954 Battle of Dien Bien Phu was a significant victory for the Viet Minh, weakening French control. Ho’s strategic decisions capitalized on the post-World War II decline of colonial powers. The Geneva Accords of 1954, which Ho helped negotiate, temporarily divided Vietnam into North and South.

After 1954, Ho focused on unifying Vietnam. His influence supported the Viet Cong’s efforts in the South, particularly during the Tet Offensive of 1968, a major escalation in the Vietnam War. Ho’s leadership emphasized mobilizing the population and adapting Marxist-Leninist principles to Vietnam’s conditions.

Critiques and Legacy

Some Marxist groups have critiqued Ho for his ties to the Soviet Union during the 1960s and for not fully aligning with Chinese revolutionary policies. Others argue that Ho skillfully used Soviet aid to advance Vietnam’s goals, maintaining strategic independence. Filipino revolutionary Jose Maria Sison has defended Ho, emphasizing his role in defeating foreign domination through pragmatic alliances.

Ho also expressed admiration for Mahatma Gandhi, viewing him as a significant mass leader, a perspective that distinguished him from some other communist leaders.

Ho Chi Minh’s Ideology

Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, often referred to as Ho Chi Minh Thought, combined Marxism-Leninism with Vietnam’s national context. It emphasized national independence, socialism, and the mobilization of all societal groups. Ho advocated for a socialist society with public ownership, equitable distribution, and a government led by the people. His military strategies, seen in victories like Dien Bien Phu and the Tet Offensive, reflected his application of Marxist-Leninist principles.

Ho Chi Minh Thought remains a guiding framework for the Communist Party of Vietnam, providing a foundation for its policies and objectives.

---

*Freelance journalist

Comments

Grueling summer ahead: Cuttack’s alarming health trends and what they mean for Odisha

By Sudhansu R Das The preparation to face the summer should begin early in Odisha. People in the state endure long, grueling summer months starting from mid-February and extending until the end of October. This prolonged heat adversely affects productivity, causes deaths and diseases, and impacts agriculture, tourism and the unorganized sector. The social, economic and cultural life of the state remains severely disrupted during the peak heat months.

Stronger India–Russia partnership highlights a missed energy breakthrough

By N.S. Venkataraman* The recent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India was widely publicized across several countries and has attracted significant global attention. The warmth with which Mr. Putin was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was particularly noted, prompting policy planners worldwide to examine the implications of this cordial relationship for the global economy and political climate. India–Russia relations have stood on a strong foundation for decades and have consistently withstood geopolitical shifts. This is in marked contrast to India’s ties with the United States, which have experienced fluctuations under different U.S. administrations.

From natural farming to fair prices: Young entrepreneurs show a new path

By Bharat Dogra There have been frequent debates on agro-business companies not showing adequate concern for the livelihoods of small farmers. Farmers’ unions have often protested—generally with good reason—that while they do not receive fair returns despite high risks and hard work, corporate interests that merely process the crops produced by farmers earn disproportionately high profits. Hence, there is a growing demand for alternative models of agro-business development that demonstrate genuine commitment to protecting farmer livelihoods.

The Vande Mataram debate and the politics of manufactured controversy

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The recent Vande Mataram debate in Parliament was never meant to foster genuine dialogue. Each political party spoke past the other, addressing its own constituency, ensuring that clips went viral rather than contributing to meaningful deliberation. The objective was clear: to construct a Hindutva narrative ahead of the Bengal elections. Predictably, the Lok Sabha will likely expunge the opposition’s “controversial” remarks while retaining blatant inaccuracies voiced by ministers and ruling-party members. The BJP has mastered the art of inserting distortions into parliamentary records to provide them with a veneer of historical legitimacy.

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

Why India must urgently strengthen its policies for an ageing population

By Bharat Dogra A quiet but far-reaching demographic transformation is reshaping much of the world. As life expectancy rises and birth rates fall, societies are witnessing a rapid increase in the proportion of older people. This shift has profound implications for public policy, and the need to strengthen frameworks for healthy and secure ageing has never been more urgent. India is among the countries where these pressures will intensify most sharply in the coming decades.

Thota Sitaramaiah: An internal pillar of an underground organisation

By Harsh Thakor* Thota Sitaramaiah was regarded within his circles as an example of the many individuals whose work in various underground movements remained largely unknown to the wider public. While some leaders become visible through organisational roles or media attention, many others contribute quietly, without public recognition. Sitaramaiah was considered one such figure. He passed away on December 8, 2025, at the age of 65.

School job scam and the future of university degree holders in West Bengal

By Harasankar Adhikari The school recruitment controversy in West Bengal has emerged as one of the most serious governance challenges in recent years, raising concerns about transparency, institutional accountability, and the broader impact on society. Allegations that school jobs were obtained through irregular means have led to prolonged legal scrutiny, involving both the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court of India. In one instance, a panel for high school teacher recruitment was ultimately cancelled after several years of service, following extended judicial proceedings and debate.

New RTI draft rules inspired by citizen-unfriendly, overtly bureaucratic approach

By Venkatesh Nayak* The Department of Personnel and Training , Government of India has invited comments on a new set of Draft Rules (available in English only) to implement The Right to Information Act, 2005 . The RTI Rules were last amended in 2012 after a long period of consultation with various stakeholders. The Government’s move to put the draft RTI Rules out for people’s comments and suggestions for change is a welcome continuation of the tradition of public consultation. Positive aspects of the Draft RTI Rules While 60-65% of the Draft RTI Rules repeat the content of the 2012 RTI Rules, some new aspects deserve appreciation as they clarify the manner of implementation of key provisions of the RTI Act. These are: Provisions for dealing with non-compliance of the orders and directives of the Central Information Commission (CIC) by public authorities- this was missing in the 2012 RTI Rules. Non-compliance is increasingly becoming a major problem- two of my non-compliance cases are...

Search This Blog