Dai Huang, labelled a ‘rightist’ for doubting Mao, dies at age 88
A liberal Communist Party member for 72 years, veteran journalist did not live to witness the fulfilment his youthful aspirations – freedom and democracy
Veteran Chinese journalist Dai Huang, who was sent for two decades of hard labour as a “rightist” for doubting the supreme authority of Mao Zedong, died on Friday afternoon of a heart failure. He was 88.
Dai was hospitalised four months ago with pneumonia and suffered two cardiac arrests during his stay there, his daughter Dai Weiwei said. His condition worsened about a week ago, she said.
Dai joined the Communist Party 72 years ago as an idealistic 16-year-old, attracted by the then underground party’s early vision of social equality and democracy.
Even as his health deteriorated rapidly in hospital, he only talked about the fate of the country and his bitter disappointment that his youthful aspirations for freedom and democracy had not been realised.
“His mind could not be at rest. He was heartbroken that he was never able to see what he clamoured for his whole life – democracy and freedom – become reality,” his daughter said. “Those meant everything to him. But even when he died, he never managed to see what he went after.”
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Wanting to fight corruption, one-party rule and the lack of rights and civil liberties, Dai became an underground member of the Communist Party in 1948 when China was still reeling from the Japanese invasion. Like many idealistic young people, he detested the corrupt Kuomintang government and was determined to dedicate his life to fight for a world of freedom and equality under a new regime.
