Shanghai, 6 June (ZXS) -- Qian Yonggang, son of Qian Xuesen: "My father taught me to know how to give up in life."

Written by Yubin Fan

"My father taught me to know how to give up in life." Qian Yonggang, director of Qian Xuesen Library of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and son of Qian Xuesen, said in an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Agency at Qian Xuesen Library of Shanghai Jiao Tong University on the 3rd.

On June 6, Qian Yonggang, director of Qian Xuesen Library of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and son of Qian Xuesen, was interviewed by a reporter from China News Agency. Photo by China News Agency reporter Fan Yubin

"The biggest influence my father had on me was knowing what 'she' is." Qian Yonggang said frankly that when he was a child, he saw everything good, and looked forward to the day when he could achieve what he wanted and get everything he wanted. "But after working, I found that this is a beautiful ideal, what you really want, if you don't learn to give up, this 'get' is still not perfect."

This truth was understood by Qian Yonggang from his father's life experience. "My father has such a big skill, but he clearly knows that his ability is limited, and if he wants to really get it, he must learn to give up." Qian Yonggang said.

As he said, Qian Xuesen's "giving and gaining" has been clearly reflected in his life trajectory - Qian Xuesen studied and worked in the United States in his early years, and at the beginning of the founding of New China, he broke through many obstacles, resolutely returned to China to participate in construction, and eventually became a well-known "national outstanding contribution scientist" at home and abroad and the founder of China's aerospace industry.

"Most people today will not doubt that Qian Xuesen's life is a successful life." Qian Yonggang said that to choose a life for national rejuvenation, Qian Xuesen has made five life choices: learn railway engineering and build railways for China; Changed to aeronautical engineering; Moved from being an aeronautical engineer to aeronautical theoretical research; Shift from academic theoretical research to large-scale scientific research project construction; Finally, back to academic theoretical research.

Exploring Qian Xuesen's success from a broader perspective, Qian Yonggang believes that the spiritual realm of a Chinese intellectual is the reason for Qian Xuesen's achievements. "He always cared about the rejuvenation of the nation, always pursued scientific truth, and always devoted himself to the modernization cause of the motherland."

"Qian Xuesen's greatness is not only in his achievements in the aerospace field, what we should really learn is that he continues to study every day after retirement." Qian Yonggang said that from the age of 71 to 85, Qian Xuesen made unremitting explorations in many fields, he put forward the concept of open complex giant systems, created the theory of "comprehensive integration method from qualitative to quantitative" and its practical form, concentrated on the study of systems engineering theory, and further developed the theory from engineering systems engineering to social systems engineering, making it an organizational management method for achieving long-term and overall best benefits in all fields of society.

Qian Yonggang revealed that Qian Xuesen once told his grandson Qian Lei: "Half a century ago, the state asked me to build rockets and missiles, and later artificial earth satellites. I use mature theories and technologies, there is nothing new, it is nothing more than to develop them as soon as possible according to the requirements of the state, this is nothing. You remember, if that's great, the grandpa of the 21st century will be even greater. ”

At the entrance of the second exhibition hall of Qian Xuesen Library of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, there is a chronological table showing Qian Xuesen's involvement in disciplines in his life, involving more than 20 disciplines, the number and span are embarrassing.

Why did Qian Xuesen achieve extraordinary achievements in most of the fields he was involved in? Qian Yonggang summarized six factors: first-class education lays the foundation for becoming talents, philosophical guidance opens the door to wisdom, artistic accomplishment develops innovative thinking, endless learning casts academic peaks, and the motherland trusts to build a platform for dedication, and uniquely understands and solves the mysteries of the world.

Qian Yonggang, 75 years old this year, has been doing six things since his retirement for 20 years: building museums, building classes, publishing books, making film and television works, giving speeches, and holding exhibitions. He said that he will do his best to do these things well, and guide more young people to cultivate a sense of social responsibility from an early age with the spirit of serving the country and serving the country with science and technology. ”

As for his father, Qian Yonggang commented: "I don't think he is a qualified father, because with his knowledge, I can get more, but I can't do it due to various conditions." But I also felt that he was also a very qualified father, because he not only taught me knowledge, but also taught me more basic principles, and those who were inadvertently taught to me were the most precious things. ”

Someone once ridiculed Qian Xuesen, saying that his "biggest mistake in life is choosing to return to China, and if he does not return to China, his academic achievements will be greater."

In this regard, Qian Yonggang asked rhetorically: "If Qian Xuesen did not choose to return to China, would his life achievements still be so great?" He mentioned: "There is currently a view that 'scientific research can stay away from politics', which is obviously not in line with the historical facts of scientific development." ”

"Many young people now have a weakness, they lack attention to politics, they do not pay attention to grasping the needs of the nation and society, let alone determine their academic direction according to this demand," Qian Yonggang said, "Shouldn't this cause young people who are looking forward to fulfilling their dreams in life to think?" (End)