A scholarship was named after renowned sociologist and
anthropologist Fei Xiaotong at the weekend.
Outstanding students and researchers will be able to obtain aid
from the Fei Xiaotong Education Fund, which promotes national
education and encourages young students to devote themselves to
China.
Fei, who has devoted himself to the teaching and research of
sociology and anthropology for almost six decades, pins high hopes
on the contribution of younger generations.
"I'm old and I hope many scholars can finish the work of my
generation through the fund," Fei, 93, said at a weekend
ceremony.
Fei's works were instrumental in laying a solid foundation for the
development of sociological and anthropological studies in China.
He is currently a professor of sociology at Peking
University.
Fei is a prolific writer and his masterpieces, Peasant Life in
China and From the Soil, the Foundations of Chinese
Society are essential reading for sociologists interested in
rural China.
The fund is managed by the China Universities Alumni
Association.
Tong Xiaobin, secretary-general of the association, said the fund
has received about 5 million yuan (US$602,000) in donations since
it started in 1997.
Up
until now, more than 30 students from Peking University, Tsinghua
University and Renmin University of China have been aided by the
fund.
"We expect more donations from across the world to give those needy
and outstanding students and researchers a push," Tong said.
(China Daily March 31, 2003)