Chapter 62 persistent

Ma Yinchu often said to people: "It's easy to say what others say, but it's not easy to say what others want to say, and it's even more difficult to say what others dare not say. I just say what others want to say, What people dare not say." Ma Yinchu was criticized for his population theory. Peking University held a meeting to criticize him. The meeting had been going on for a long time, but Ma Yinchu’s people had not yet arrived.So they sent someone to "invite" him over. After he arrived, he moved a chair and sat in front of the stage calmly.At this time, some people in the audience began to shout slogans, but Ma Yinchu said calmly: "I take a cold shower every day, no matter how cold it is. Now that the weather is not cold, I don't care if you take a hot bath." gone."

In 1958, at a school-wide criticism meeting, Ma Yinchu shouted loudly: "I didn't teach in the classroom, but I want to use my articles to educate Peking students to uphold the truth." Later, Ma Yinchu wrote in another article Dao: "I don't teach on weekdays, and I don't have direct contact with students. I always want to educate students with actions. I always hope that the 10,400 students of Peking University will face difficulties when they are studying and in the future work in the century. Come on, don't bow your head when you encounter difficulties."

In April 1958, Chen Boda suddenly attacked Ma Yinchu and publicly demanded at the celebration of Peking University that "Ma Yinchu should review his "New Population Theory"!" There are nearly 10,000 big-character posters.Mr. Ma Yinchu showed a righteous spirit without fear.He refused to make any unprincipled self-criticism, debated openly with critics, and faced those opportunists who used politics to suppress academics. He said, "It is not good to pour cold water, but it is very good for me. What I am most afraid of is cold water. Because I am used to taking cold showers, I have been taking showers for 50 years, every day, every night, twice a day, regardless of winter or summer, I am most welcome to pour cold water on me." In July of the same year, Chen Fuzi (Chen Boda) was defeated. After leaving the battle, the "theoretical authority" and "master of man-hunting" Mr. Kang (Kang Sheng) personally broke into battle. At the criticism meeting of Peking University, he accused Ma Yinchu of "being Malthus's horse."Ma Yinchu did not show any weakness, and counterattacked in public: "I am a horse of Marx! Whoever says I am Malthusian, I will regard him as a dogmatist and an anti-Leninist."There was an uproar at the venue.

On May 4, 1958, Peking University held its 60th anniversary celebration. Chen Boda attended and delivered a commemorative speech.Chen Boda sternly said to Ma Yinchu who was sitting on the rostrum: "Ma Yinchu wants to review his "New Population Theory"!" Hearing this, Ma Yinchu raised his face slightly and looked at the top of Chen Boda's head without saying a word. Treat it like nothing. In the summer of 1959, Ma Yinchu returned to Beijing with the inspection team of the National People's Congress.Zhou Enlai talked to him on behalf of Mao Zedong and the Party Central Committee.Because Ma Yinchu refused to admit defeat and recognized the truth, the conversation naturally failed to reach an agreement.In the end, Zhou Enlai said in an almost pleading tone: "Mr. Ma, you are 16 years older than me. I have always respected your moral knowledge as a teacher. You and I met in Chongqing in 1938 and became friends who have forgotten our years." Come on, it’s been 20 years. How many 20 years can life have? This time, you should write a deep review at my request. After the review, hello, hello, hello everyone, it’s too much What if we have passed the level of socialism?" But Ma Yinchu said to Zhou En: "I love my friends, and I love the truth more. For the sake of the country and the truth, it is not I, Ma Yinchu, who should be criticized!"

In the face of criticism, Ma Yinchu once again issued a statement: "I am quite sure of my theories, I have to persist, and I have to maintain my academic dignity. Although I am nearly 80 years old, I know that I am outnumbered, so I will fight alone. Until you die in battle, you will never surrender to the kind of critics who only persuade you with strength and not with reason! Because I have a certain degree of confidence in my theory, I have to persist, and the dignity of academics must be maintained.” From December 1959 to January 1960, Peking University's criticism of Ma Yinchu was rampant.In the face of this situation, Ma Yinchu has repeatedly stated: "I think this is not a political issue, but a purely academic issue. Academic issues are more important to debate, and the more debates become clearer, it is not appropriate to embrace the idea of ​​'safeguarding one's life wisely and avoiding anything' in case of an attack. Ideas. On the contrary, you should advance despite difficulties and never bow to difficulties. I think that in research work, you must be prepared in advance. If you are not sure, don’t write articles. After writing, you must have the courage to correct mistakes, but you must stick to the truth. Even if it is detrimental to personal self-interest or even your precious life, you should bear all the consequences." He also said to Peking University students at a criticism meeting: "Students, I hope you can defeat me, but you must use science. rather than a stick."

At that time, all publications of Peking University and newspapers across the country violently criticized "New Population Theory", but Ma Yinchu refused to criticize and resolutely refused to write a review article. .Therefore, Dong Qiao once wrote an article to let people today "learn from Ma Yinchu's toughness".This kind of "toughness" comes from the memories of Peking University students: "Principal Ma is such a tough nut to crack. There is no way to make him submit; to force him to commit suicide is delusional!" After Ma Yinchu was forced to resign as the president of Peking University, he said: "I can't lead politically at Peking University, but I can lead academically! My population theory is a purely academic issue. But some people force it into Of course I don’t agree with political issues, the atmosphere in Peking University is too dull now, no one dares to express their opinions, and there is no academic atmosphere.”