THE NATIONALIST MOVEMENT IN INDO-CHINA
SECTION A — EMERGING FROM THE SHADOW OF CHINA
THE DILEMMA OF COLONIAL EDUCATION AND
HYGIENE, DISEASE AND EVERYDAY RESISTANCE
Indo-China comprises the modern countries of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Vietnam followed a Chinese system of government as well as Chinese culture.
The French colonised Vietnam. After defeating China, they assumed control of Tonkin and
Anaam.
In 1887, French Indo-China was formed.
Colonies were considered essential to supply natural resources and other essential goods. The
French built infrastructure projects to help transport goods for trade, move military garrisons
and control the entire region.
The colonial economy in Vietnam was based on rice cultivation and rubber plantations. Very
little industrialisation of Vietnam by France.
To counter Chinese influence, the French systematically dismantled the traditional
educational system and established French schools for the Vietnamese.
The textbooks glorified French rule and culture.
Students fought against discrimination against the Vietnamese in white collar jobs. Schools
became important place for cultural and political battles. Education became an important part
of the larger battle against colonialism and for independence.
In 1902, the French part of Hanoi was hit by a rat menace. Vietnamese were paid to catch
and kill the rats. Plague swept the area in 1903, as clever Vietnamese took to clipping the
rats’ tails as proofs. They let the rats go.
Colonialism was fought in such resistant acts in everyday life.
SECTION B — (I) RELIGION AND ANTI-COLONIALISM
(III) THE COMMUNIST MOVEMENT AND VIETNAMESE NATIONALISM
Religious beliefs of Vietnam were a mixture of Buddhism, Confucianism and local practices.
The French introduced Christianity, their Missionaries were hostile to the easy-going attitude
of the Vietnamese towards religion.
Scholars’ Revolt of 1868 : Led by officials of the Imperial Court. Uprising in Ngu An and
Ha Tien provinces killed a thousand Catholics. By the middle of the 18th century 300,000
people converted to Christianity. Revolt suppressed by the French.
The Hoa Hao Movement began in 1939 under its founder Huynh Phu So.
He performed miracles, helped the poor, opposed sale of brides, gambling and use of opium
and alcohol.
The French declared him mad and sent him to a mental asylum. Freed in 1946, but exiled
to Laos. Followers sent to concentration camps.
Vision of Modernisation : Two opinions held (i) Vietnamese traditions had to be
strengthened to resist western domination. (ii) The second school felt that the Vietnamese had
to learn from the West, while resisting its domination.
Phan Boi Chau (1867-1940) formed the ‘Revolution Society’ (Duy Tan Hoi) in 1903 with
Prince Cuong De as the lead. He wrote a book, ‘History of the Loss of Vietnam’ under the
influence of the Chinese reformer Liang Qichao (1873-1929). He believed that the French
should be driven out first and then monarchy should be restored in Vietnam.
Phan Chu Trinh (1871-1926) differed strongly. He was totally opposed to monarchy and
wanted to establish a democratic republic.
Go East Movement : Some 300 Vietnamese students went to Japan in 1907-08 to acquire
modern education. Their aim was to drive out the French and re-establish the Ngu Yen
dynasty. They wanted Japanese help and established a Restoration Society in Tokyo. But
after 1908, the Japanese closed the society, and sent many of them, including Phan Boi Chau
to exile in China and Thailand.
Whe Sun Yat Sen overthrew monarchy in China in 1911, a new association – Association for
Restoration of Vietnam was formed. Their objective was to have a Democratic Republic and
a Constitutional Monarchy in Vietnam.
The Communist Movement
The Great Depression of the 1930s led to unemployment, debts and rural uprisings in Vietnam.
A new leader, Ho Chi Minh, appeared on the scene in 1930. He established the Vietnamese
Communist (Vietnam Cong San Dang) Party, inspired by Europeon communists.
Ho Chi Minh (He who enlightens) was born in Central Vietnam; later became an active
member of the committee. He met Lenin and other leaders. After 30 years stay in Europe,
Thailand and China he returned to Vietnam in May 1941. He became President of Vietnam
Democratic Republic.
In 1940, Japan occupied Vietnam. The League for the Independence of Vietnam (known as
the Viet Minh) fought the Japanese, recaptured Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh became the chairman
of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in September 1943.
Vietnamese Nationalism : The French set up a puppet regime under Bao Dai as Emperor.
After years of fighting, the French were finally defeated in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu.
The Battle of Dien Bien Phu (1953-1954)
On 7 May, 1954, more than 16,000 soldiers of the French army were either killed or captured.
The entire French commanding staff, including a General, 16 Colonels, 1749 officers were
taken prisoner.
Vietnam was divided into North and South Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh and Bao Dai became rulers
in north and south respectively.
The division led to war. The Bau Dai regime was overthrown by Ngo Dinh Diem. The south
united and formed the National Liberation Front (NLF) and fought for unification of the
country under Ho Chi Minh.
Fear of communism made the US intervene in Vietnam and a bitter war was fought during
1965-1972. Finally, peace was restored in 1974.
SECTION C — THE NATION AND ITS HEROES
Women played no role in public life of the Vietnamese, but the freedom struggle led to an
emerging new image of womanhood.
Women like Trung sisters (39-43 CE) became idols. Same was the case with Trieu Au of 3rd
century CE.
In the 1960s, women were depicted as young, brave and dedicated. They were shown as
warriors and workers.
The image of the warrior woman was replaced with the image of worker woman, in the
1970s, when the end of the war was near.
The US failed to achieve its objectives in the US Vietnam war.
The US-Vietnam war was called the first television war.
On 30 April, 1975 the North Liberation Front (NLF) occupied the presidential palace in
Saigon and unified Vietnam.
