The dream came true in Ürümqi
Posté par ITgium le 16 septembre 2015
A jùn mǎ tale 俊 马 故事 (François de la Chevalerie)
A couple of years ago, I went up to Ürümqi for a seminar upon the sediment issue in China, a somewhat complicated topic aiming at a limited circle of people, mostly experienced scientists and young postgraduates.
Ending the days – as I always do through all my traveling in China – I walked across the Xinjiang’s capital at random with little or no apparent destination.
Take a close look to the people in the streets is an exciting show, the best way to grasp the soul of a city. For such purpose, my only weapons were my prying eyes, my shoes and an endless patience.
On that confident basis, I have begun my journey in Ürümqi, a Mongolian language word which means « beautiful pasture ».
This time, my persistence paid off.
During this night walk, I had a recurring thought in my mind.
For decades, Ürümqi has been a welcoming place for numerous ethnic groups, the grounds of different culture, such as the Han, the Uyghur, the Kazakhs, the Hui.
Through newspapers and television, I’ve heard that the region is prone to civil unrest. Therefore, a question arises in my mind : How will this complex mixture work in the long run?
However, I choose not to fall into the trap of preconceived ideas. I’d like to get beyond that. My intention was to go to the source, knock at the door of the Ürümqi man’s street, I mean, try to sneak up on him !
After a long route march, I stopped in a public square. I sat on a bench. In front of me, on another one, three half-asleep young people in their early thirties were dressed with sportswear.
Amidst two men, a woman.
I have to acknowledge – that makes me feel ashamed to say – that I observed them with a particular degree of intrusiveness.
According to their facial features, they appeared to belong to various ethnic groups.
The men, a Uyghur and a Kazakh.
The woman, a Han.
The two mean laid back their head on the woman shoulder. In her’s hands, loose-leaf sheets.
Suddenly, driven by an unknown force, they began to read the texts. They seemed to recite whole passages by heart as they were going to pass school exams. In between their lecture, more than once, they laughed.
It was a really contagious laughter. Around them, the people were smiling as I did, happily. With this wonderful picture in mind, I made my way back to the hotel.
The very next day, I returned to the conference. The topic of the day: how the young generation will perceive the issue of the sediment treatment and valorization?
What a curious idea?
I questioned a colleague. He told me that the Conference organizers would like to encourage vocations in a sector mostly neglected by young researchers.
Much to my surprise, I’ve seen once again the three young people that I met the day before.
They stood on the platform. On this occasion, they were wearing proper conference uniforms, tie andsuit. This time, they kept a severe face.
The speaker introduced their name one by one.
My intuition was right.
Their names resound in my memories such as a song. They were wearing the china country’s ethnic diversity with dignity and pride. Their beauty, their remarkable osmosis and global strength impressed me.
Then they took the floor.
“Our ambition, they said with one voice, is that the Huang He (黃河), the China mother river, may become navigable in all its parts someday in the fifty years to come. We have therefore decided to give our lives to make it possible. We are convinced that all ethnic groups and peoples living nearby the river share the same dream, our dream”.
The following, their presentation was well built, packed with interesting ideas. A number of well-argued and well-considered research avenues were explored.
By throwing out the sediment, in the horizon of 2050, the Huang He could become a navigable waterway in all its parts.
Beside technical aspect, their message was vital, life-changing and life-giving.
The public listened to them carefully and with a deep interest.
One hour later, the audience applauded wholeheartedly which is something unusual in this type of meeting. A standing ovation greatly merited.
I have been myself also overwhelmed by this contagious enthusiasm. I warmly welcomed their inspiring speech.
At the end, the three young people were yelling, laughing, hugging and pounding each other on the back.
I felt like it was just holding the future in front of me.
This day in Ürümqi
This day, China.
Francois de la Chevalerie (Junma)
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