Qian Xuesen passed away, at 98, on Saturday, leaving behind not just his fame as father of China's rocketry. He will live in the memory of many as a symbol of patriotism, earnestness and perseverance in academic pursuit.

He may have enjoyed better working conditions and achieved world fame had he chosen to stay in the United States even after he was wrongly imprisoned and stripped of security clearance there. But he was determined that his career would definitely be in his motherland, and so would be his achievements and his final destination.

Without the earnestness in academic study, he would not have reached that height.

He was already a top scientist in 1964, when a young man wrote him a letter and pointed out an error he made in an equation he had published. He not just immediately answered the letter and admitted the error he had committed, but encouraged the young man to write an essay and helped him to have his essay published in a magazine.

He had helped many people in writing research papers and conducting research. But he refused anyone whom he had helped with their papers to have his name signed in the papers to be published. He said that only those who wrote the papers could have their names signed and that was the principle.

He had four principles: never write inscriptions for anyone or anything; never attend any activity that is only ceremonial, never write preface or foreword for anyone and never receive reporters for interview.

In striking contrast, some scholars or scientists today have names signed on papers to which they have never contributed a single word or idea. Some are busy all day attending various meetings or ceremonies and take pride in the high rate of appearance on TV. Some have even gone too far by plagiarizing and cheating in their scientific papers.

In memory of this great mind and soul, it is more than necessary for people in the circle of science and technology and other walks of life as well to seriously reflect on the virtues and merits many have lost in the past decades when they were lured astray by fame and money.

Qian was quoted as saying that he repeatedly asked the question why our institutions of higher learning could hardly cultivate first class talent. He told Premier Wen Jiabao that none of our institutions of higher learning are running in the right model of cultivating excellent talent and are not innovative enough. He believed that the lack of scientific spirit was where the real problem was.

That was earnestness and perseverance in academic studies, which is the great heritage this giant has left behind.

(China Daily 11/02/2009 page4)