'The grass is growing': Following the footsteps of George Hogg

"Through his being and working, many blades of grass will grow in places where none grew before." That's the epigraph written by Rewi Alley for his friend and colleague George Hogg who died in Shandan, Gansu on July 22, 1945.

It was only 24 days away from Japan's surrender and the end of World War II.

Eight decades later, on the land George Hogg used to live and work, grass is growing, lush and green.

The 110th anniversary marking the birth of George Hogg was held in the Lanzhou City University in southwest China's Gansu Province on Monday, with the attendance of representatives and scholars from China, as well as a special group of representatives from the UK including the relatives of George Hogg and the members of the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding (SACU).

The British delegation was organized by the SACU. Themed around "following the steps of George Hogg", the delegation have set out on a trip through Shanghai, Nanjing, Xi'an, Baoji, Tianshui and Lanzhou, and will later depart for Zhangye and Dunhuang, to find the relics and traces where George Hogg used to strive together with the Chinese people in their war of resistance against the Japanese invasion during World War II.

George Hogg traveled with his aunt Muriel Lester on a trip around the U.S., Japan and later arrived in China in 1938, several months after the Nanjing Massacre. Not believing the Japanese propaganda, he decided to stay longer in China and find out what truly happened on this piece of land. 

Traveling from Shanghai to Hankou and later to Xi'an, he witnessed the brutality of the war, as well as the sufferings of the Chinese people, and preferred to stay and become the secretary of the then Chinese Industrial Cooperative movement. Later, he accepted the invitation to become the headmaster of Bailie School in Shuangshipu, devoted in education of school children. He has also adopted four children.

Since then, Hogg stayed in China for seven years, until his unexpected death. 

A symposium was held as part of the 110th anniversary. Representatives, guests and scholars have shared their understanding of George Hogg and his contribution in such a short life. He Wei, vice chairman of Gansu Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) made a speech, memorizing George Hogg’s contribution to China and the Chinese people. 

Han Gaonian, president of the Lanzhou City University and Wei Keqiang, principal of Shandan Bailie School have introduced the development of the Bailie schools after Hogg died, saying that "the grass is indeed growing."

Michael Crook, president of the International Committee for the Promotion of Chinese Industrial Cooperative, has also mentioned George Hogg's spirit of humanitarianism and internationalism. Zoe Reed, former president of SACU, and Mark Aylwin Thomas, George Hogg's nephew have also delivered their speech. The event was also attended by representatives from the British Embassy in China. 

After the symposium, the British delegation have also visited the Rewi Alley Research Center of the Lanzhou City University, as well as the exhibition of Rewi Alley, George Hogg and the development of the Chinese Industrial Cooperative.