The Path Which Led Me To Leninism
- Ho Chi Minh
After World War I, I made my
living in Paris, now as a retoucher
at a photographer’s, now as painter
of “Chinese antiquities” (made in
France!). I would distribute leaflets
denouncing the crimes committed
by the French colonialists in Viet
Nam.
At that time, I supported the
October Revolution only instinctively,
not yet grasping all its historic
importance. I loved and admired
Lenin because he was a great
patriot who liberated his compatriots;
until then, I had read none of his
books.
The reason for my joining the
French Socialist Party was that
these “ladies and gentlemen” - as I
called my comrades at that moment
- has shown their sympathy towards
me, towards the struggle of the
oppressed peoples. But I understood
neither what was a party, a trade-
union, nor what was socialism nor
communism.
Heated discussions were then
taking place in the branches of the
Socialist Party, about the question
whether the Socialist Party should
remain in the Second International,
should a Second and a half
International be founded or should
the Socialist Party join Lenin’s Third
International? I attended the
meetings regularly, twice or thrice
a week and attentively listened to
the discussion. First, I could not
understand thoroughly. Why were
the discussions so heated? Either
with the Second, Second and a half
or Third International, the revolution
January - 2020
could be waged. What was the use
of arguing then? As for the First
International, what had become of
it?
What I wanted most to know -
and this precisely was not debated
in the meetings - was: which
International sides with the peoples
of colonial countries?
I raised this question - the most
important in my opinion - in a meeting.
Some comrades answered: It is the
Third, not the Second International.
And a comrade gave me Lenin’s
“Thesis on the national and colonial
questions” published by l’Humanite
to read.
There were political terms
difficult to understand in this thesis.
But by dint of reading it again and
again, finally I could grasp the main
part of it. What emotion, enthusiasm,
clear-sightedness and confidence
it instilled into me! I was overjoyed
to tears. Though sitting alone in my
room, I shouted out aloud as if
addressing large crowds: “Dear
martyrs compatriots! This is what
we need, this is the path to our
liberation!”
After then, I had entire
confidence in Lenin, in the Third
International.
Formerly, during the meetings
of the Party branch, I only listened
to the discussion; I had a vague
belief that all were logical, and could
not differentiate as to who were
right and who were wrong. But from
then on, I also plunged into the
debates and discussed with fervour.
Though I was still lacking French
words to express all my thoughts, I
smashed the allegations attacking
Lenin and the Third International
with no less vigour. My only argument
was: “If you do not condemn
colonialism, if you do not side with
the colonial people, what kind of
revolution are you waging?”
Not only did I take part in the
meetings of my own Party branch,
but I also went to other Party
branches to lay down “my position”.
Now I must tell again that Comrades
Marcel Cachin, Vaillant Couturier,
Monmousseau and many others
helped me to broaden my
knowledge. Finally, at the Tours
Congress, I voted with them for our
joining the Third International.
At first, patriotism, not yet
communism, led me to have
confidence in Lenin, in the Third
International. Step by step, along
the struggle, by studying Marxism-
Leninism parallel with participation
in practical activities, I gradually
came upon the fact that only
socialism and communism can
liberate the oppressed nations and
the working people throughout the
world from slavery.
There is a legend, in our country
as well as in China, on the miraculous
“Book of the Wise”. When facing
great difficulties, one opens it and
finds a way out. Leninism is not only
a miraculous “book of the wise”, a
compass for us Vietnamese
revolutionaries and people: it is also
the radiant sun illuminating our path
to final victory, to socialism and
communism.
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