CBSE - The Nationalist Movement in Indo-China

(a) The “civilising mission” of the colonisers was an imperial disguise for controlling colonies. 
European powers assumed that their civilisation was the most advanced, and that it was their umanitarian concern to spread it around the world, even if this was done by force. Europeans became the self-professed carriers of light to the colonies, rejecting the latter’s inherent traditions, religions and cultures as outdated. Also, education was viewed as a “civilising” tool, but fearing retaliation, the colonisers—the French in Vietnam, the British in India, did not want to give full access to the colonised people to Western education. They were aware that Western education might instill democratic ideals and a desire for independence. Hence, the “civilising mission” was marred by double standards and sheer hypocrisy. 

(b) Huynh Phu So was the founder of a nationalist movement called Hoa Hao. He performed miracles and helped the poor. His criticism against useless expenditure had a wide appeal. He also opposed the sale of child brides, gambling and the use of alcohol and opium. The French tried to suppress the movement inspired by Huynh Phu So. They declared him mad, called him the Mad Bonze, and put him in a mental asylum. But the doctor, who had to prove him mad, became his follower. Finally, he was exiled to Laos and many of his followers were sent to concentration camps.

Only one-third of the students in Vietnam would pass the school-leaving examinations because the French colonial administration followed a deliberate policy of failing students in their final year examinations so that they could not qualify for better-paid jobs. Only the wealthy Vietnamese could afford enrolment in these expensive schools, and to add to that, very few would pass the school-leaving examinations.

The French began building canals and draining lands in the Mekong delta for increased cultivation. This was done under a garb to "civilise" Vietnam on a European model, but it was actually an economic idea meant to increase rice production and subsequent export of rice to the international market.

When the French principal of the Saigon Native Girls School expelled the students protesting another student's expulsion, there was widespread remonstration. Considering the gravity of the situation, the government decided to control the intensity of the protests by providing an outlet-making the school take back the students.

Rats were most common in the modern, newly built areas of Hanoi because the modern and apparently hygienic sewage system provided ideal breeding grounds for rodents apart from being a good transport system as well, for the rats. Sewage from the old city was drained out into the river or overflowed in the streets during heavy rains. The large sewers now became a protected breeding and living space for rats. Hanoi, despite its "modernity", became the chief cause of the plague in 1903.

Like other colonisers, the French also thought that they were on a civilising mission. Thus the Tonkin Free School was opened to give Western education. The school taught science, hygiene and French, other than the common subjects. For these three subjects the students had to attend evening classes and also pay separately. The students were not only made to attend these classes but they were asked to sport modern looks too. A typical example of this was that Vietnamese were asked to cut off their long hair and adopt a short hair cut which was absolutely against their culture.

Phan Chu Trinh's objective for Vietnam was to make it a democratic republic, along the western ideals of liberty. He accused the French of not following their own national ideals, and demanded for the setting up of legal and educational institutions alongside the development of agriculture and industries.
Unlike Phan Boi Chau, Phan Chu Trinh was extremely opposed to the monarchy. Hence, their ideas had at their roots this fundamental difference.

The influence of China on Vietnam's culture and life was multifarious before the French colonised Vietnam. Even when the latter gained independence in 1945, the rulers maintained the use of Chinese governance systems and culture. The elites were vastly influenced by Chinese culture and life, as has been elucidated in Phan Boi Chau's book "The History of the Loss of Vietnam". Chinese language and Confucianism were followed by the upper classes in Vietnam. In 1911, when the Chinese Republic was set up, Vietnamese students followed suit in organising the Association for the Restoration of Vietnam. Vietnamese men also kept their hair long - a Chinese tradition.

Religion had always played a pivotal role in the lives of people in Vietnam. Vietnam's religious beliefs were a mix of Buddhism, Confucianism and local customs. Christianity looked down upon their reverence for the supernatural. In 1868, the Scholars' Revolt protested against the tyrannical spread of Christianity, and though the movement was defeated, it inspired others to follow suit. The Hoa Hoa movement in 1939 drew upon popular religious ideas of the nineteenth century, and its leader Huynh Phu So was a famous entity. These groups were not in tandem with political parties which tended to look down upon their activities with discomfort. Nevertheless, religious movements were successful in arousing anti-imperialist tendencies in the Vietnamese people.

The US got involved in the war in Vietnam because it feared that a communist government would come to power in Vietnam after the National Liberation Front formed a coalition with the Ho Chi Minh government in the north, against Ngo Dinh Diem's regime. US policy-planners feared a spread of communism to other countries in the area.
This involvement in the Vietnam war affected life within the US itself because of widespread public dissent. Only university graduates were exempt from compulsory service in the army and this caused even more anger amongst the minorities and working-class families.

From 1965 to 1972, the US-Vietnam War continued and caused losses to both US and Vietnam.
The Vietnamese people suffered human and property losses, yet they never stopped their struggle for freedom. Here it is important to mention the role played by the porters in getting freedom and unity of Vietnam. The porters set out without fear on the Ho Chi Minh Trail which was a great expansive network of roads and footpaths. The heroic porters carried as much as 25 kg to 70 kg of weight on their backs or bicycles. They did not fear that they might fall over in the deep valleys. They bravely walked on the narrow, dangerous roads that marked the treacherous routes. They also did not feel afraid of being shot down by aircraft guns. They put all their fears aside and walked on to maintain the supply line. This fact showed that the porters were heroic and patriotic.

The Vietnamese women played an important role in the US-Vietnam War. They were both warriors and workers. As warriors and soldiers, the Vietnamese women constructed six air strips, they neutralised thousands of bombs and went on to shoot down fifteen planes. There were 1.5 million Vietnamese women in the regular army, the militia, the local forces and professional teams. The women workers were also engaged as porters, nurses and construction workers.

Women played a crucial role in the anti-imperial struggle in Vietnam. Women who rebelled against social conventions were idealised and rebel women of the past were likewise celebrated. Trieu Au was a popular figure in nationalist tales. In the 1960s, women were represented as brave soldiers and workers. They assisted in nursing wounded soldiers, constructing underground tunnels and fighting the enemy. Interestingly, between 1965 and 1975, 70-80% of the youth working on the Ho Chi Minh trail were women.
Compared to this very direct and active participation of Vietnamese women in the anti-imperial struggle, India women did not play a very dynamic role in the nationalist struggle of India against Great Britain. They followed Gandhian ideals of boycotting foreign goods and picketing liquor shops, but mainstream politics was controlled by men; although women like Sarojini Naidu, Kamla Nehru and Kasturba Gandhi were keenly involved.

Q.1 why was Tonkin free school established?
a) They wanted to provide western type of education.
b) They wanted to provide education according to the local need.
c) They wanted to use local language.
d) They wanted to provide technical education

Q.2 On which factor was the economy of Vietnam based on?
a) Tea and Rubber Plantation b) Rice and Rubber plantation
c) Rice and wheat Farming  d) Rice and Tea plantation

Q.3 Which of the following step was taken by the French after Bubonic plague in Hanoi?
a) A rat hurt was started b) Chemicals were sprayed
c) Tree medicines were given d) None of these

Q.4 Who among the following wanted to establish a democratic republic in Vietnam?
a) Phan Boi chau b) Phan chu Trinh
c) Ho chi minh d) Huynh phu so

Q.5 Who was the founder of the Vietnamese communist party?
a) Fhan chu Trinh b) Huynh Phu so
c) Ho chi Minh d) Phan Boi chau

Q.6 Why did the US decide to intervene the Vietnam War?
a) United state supported Japan b) Communist had gained power
c) United states supported France d) None of the above

Q.7 A branch of the Restorations society was established in Tokyo by whom?
a) By teachers b) By Industrialist
c) By students d) None of the above

Q.8 What does NLF stand for?
a) National land force b) National legal foundation
c) National liberation force d) National liberation front

Q.9 Which movement started in against the spread of Christianity by the French.
a) The Hoa Hao moment b) The Liberation movement
c) The scholars Revolt d) Go east movement

Q.10 Which of the following Vietnamese women organized a large army to resist the Chinese?
 a) Trieu Au b) Nguyen Thi xuan c) Trung sisters d) None of the above
 
 Answer Key of Multiple Choice Questions
1. ( a ) 2. ( b ) 3. ( a ) 4. ( b ) 5. ( c ) 6. ( b ) 7. (c ) 8. ( d ) 9. ( c ) 10. ( c ) 

Civilizing the Vietnamese, they needed local labour force. They fear the if the Vietnamese were educated they would start questioning colonial 36 domination. The French citizen living in Vietnam feared that they might lose their jobs.

Dismantled the traditional system of education, opened French school for Vietnamese they wanted to replace the use of Chinese language.

1. The Vietnamese were presented from qualifying for white coloured jobs 
2. The students were inspired by patriotic feeling and decided to fight against injustice by 1920 the students started political parties.

Huynh Phu started this movement he performed miracles to help the poor. He opposed the sale of child brides gambling using alcohol and opium

Students went to Japan to acquire modern education, the main aim was to drive out the French from Vietnam Phan Boi chau and many others were forced to seek exile in china.

Roads and footpaths were used for transporting men and material from the north to the south.
Suppliers were transported in trucks but they were carried by women porters on their backs. The trail had support hospitals and bases along the way.

Rat hunt Was started in 1902 Hired Vietnamese workers to hunt the rat and were paid for each rat caught now the rat was caught in thousand but still there was no end the sewer cleaners discovered innovative way to profit making.

Us had failed to achieve its objective and could not get the support of the Vietnamese people thousands of young US soldiers had lost their lives the sense of the war were shown on the T.V therefore strong reactions in the US as well as the other countries