Teachers and students of Shanghai Jiaotong University were in deep mourning for Qian Xuesen
10/31/2009
On Oct 31, Qian Xuesen, Father of Chinese aerospace industry and famous alumnus of Shanghai Jiaotong University, passed away in Beijing at the age of 98. Shanghai Jiaotong University has a deep love for Qian Xuesen. Hearing about the news, all teachers and students were immersed in sadness and sorrow, in deep mourning for their respectable alumnus.
Qian Xuesen, who studied in Shanghai Jiaotong University in the department of mechanical engineering from 1929 to 1934, had a deep love for his university. On the 113th anniversary of the university held in April, 2009, Qian Xuesen was awarded the“Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Alumnus”. He asked his son Qian Yonggang to attend the awarding ceremony and deliver the testimonials, expressing his love and gratitude to his university. Qian Xuesen’s glorious deeds and his excellent demeanor have been widely spread within and outside campus, and he was a model for teachers and students.
In recent years, teachers and students of Shanghai Jiaotong University have been worrying about Qian Xuesen and kept promoting his deeds and spirit. On Dec 9, 2006, right before Qian Xuesen’s 95th birthday, current and former school leaders including Ma Dexiu, Zhang Jie, Xie Shengwu and Pan Min went to Beijing to visit Qian Xuesen and sent their best wishes to him. Shanghai Jiaotong University Press published a series of Qian Xuesen’s works, including five originals of his “Qian Xuesen’s Thoughts of System Science” and many other research works. The university held the “Literature and Photo Exhibition of Qian Xuesen’s Thoughts”; the archives put forward the program of “promoting Qian Xuesen’s spiritual demeanor and serving the ideological and moral construction of the university”; the ship construction college, mechanical power college and other colleges also held special lectures to learn Qian Xuesen’s spirit as well as the spiritual wealth he created. Currently, Qian Xuesen Library is under intense preparation and construction. When completed, it will become a demonstration base for national patriotism education.
Hearing about the news that Qian Xuesen has passed away, all teachers and students of our university were immersed in sorrow and expressed their deep condolence for him. Shi Guiquan, Director of the historical materials research office of the archives of Shanghai Jiaotong University, said that he was very sad when hearing the news of Qian Xuesen’s passing away. Professor Shi participated in the preparation and construction of Qian Xuesen Library and went to his home for several times where he received Mrs. Qian’s warm reception. He said that he was touched by Qian’s spirit and admired him: “Mr. Qian lived in an old house built in the 1950s and 1960s which seemed a little bit shabby. He lived a simple life and did not require much for material life. However, although in his 90s, he still kept reading magazines and learning, which touched me a lot.”According to Professor Shi, Qian Xuesen did not want to build Qian Xuesen Library. But as long as the central government made the decision, he would follow it. Not long ago, Shi Guiquan and other staff found over 800 pages files about Qian Xuesen in the National Archives of US. Shi Guiquan said that he was shocked by Qian Xuesen’s spirit again: “these documents kept a record of how Qian Xuesen struggled with US authority to come back to China. For example, on the hearing, Qian Xuesen seriously refuted US’s slander for him, demonstrating his wisdom and agility as well as the patriotism from the bottom of his heart.” Shi Guiquan said that people will remember Qian Xuesen’s spirit forever.
“We are editing Qian Xuesen’s Photo Biography and Collected Works of Dr. H.S. Tsien which make us feel his spiritual strength clearly. His death made us sad and grieved!”Han Jianmin, President of Shanghai Jiaotong University Press, said: “it is our honor to publish Qian Xuesen’s books. Qian Xuesen’s Photo Biography will be published soon, while Collected Works of Dr. H.S. Tsien which have three volumes will be published in the Spring of 2010.” Han Jianmin also said: “we will try our best to make Qian Xuesen’s books better and make them into an outstanding brand of Shanghai Jiaotong University Press, thus to carry forward his spirit.”
Professor Huang Zhen, Director of the Energy Research Institute of Shanghai Jiaotong University, said: “the news came suddenly, making people feel sad. Qian Xuesen refused high salary provided by US and came back to China where he made outstanding achievements in the field of missile and aerodynamics. He also made great contributions to the national defense industry. His spirit is worth learning.”Qi Jinggang, ideology and politics teacher of the Aerodynamics College said: “Qian Xuesen’s death made people sad. It is the loss of the college, the university and even the whole country. Aerodynamics College will continue to include promoting Qian Xuesen’s spirit into our education process to make students benefit more from his spirit.”
“Shining Star Fallen!”, “In Memory of Our Alumnus!”, “Farewell to Mr. Qian, We’ll Always Remember Your Great Achievements.” By 3 PM, there were nearly 600 posts on the university’s BBS in memory of Qian Xuesen. “In memory of Qian Xuesen” has become the main topic. Students expressed their admiration and yearning for their predecessor. Junior student Chao Ruiqi said: “I can not believe it and I do not want to believe it! Both his academic research and ideological quality are so respectable. As a student of Shanghai Jiaotong University, he gave full play to our school motto ‘never forget about the source, love the country and do credit to the university’. Qian Xuesen was the model of all students of Shanghai Jiaotong University.”
Added news
In the afternoon of Oct 31, Party and government leaders as well as teachers and students of Shanghai Jiaotong University held a memorial ceremony in Xuhui campus to mourn for Qian Xuesen. Ma Dexiu, CPC Party Secretary of the university attended the memorial ceremony.