1903 Ku Meng-yu enrolled in 京师大学堂 to study French and German. 1906 he went to Leipzig University for electrical studies, then transferred to Berlin University and completed his degree in economics and politics. He joined Tongmenghui 同盟会 in Germany 1910. This was Sun Yat Sun's underground organization which recruited and raised money overseas for the revolution. Ku was an active member. He returned to China in 1917 as Professor of German and head of the German department, later as head of the Economics department. December 1925 he became president of Guangdong University 广东大学. Shortly after, in December 1926, he transferred to Zhongshan University 中山大学. January 1926 he was elected a member of the executive committee of the Nationalist Party 国民党，and assigned in May to the vetting committee. After the May 3 incident, Ku - together with Wang Ching Wei's other supporters Wang Leh-p'ing, Ch'en Kung-po, Wang Fa-ch'in, and Chu Chi-ch'ing - founded the Society for Koumintang Reorganization, which sought to reconcile Wang and Chiang Kai shek. Ku became the Railroad Minister in 1932, then Transportation Minister in 1935. In December of the same year, he served Cabinet of Ministers as the Minister of Commerce. During World War II, his political benefactor 汪精卫 cooperated with the Japanese despite numerous objections from him. Ku then immediately disassociated himself publicly and successfully continue to work with Chiang Kai Shek who shortly appointed him as President of Central University. In 1949, Ku moved to Hong Kong and published the journal《火道]. He co-founded the Fighting League for Chinese Freedom and Democracy, a Third Force organization supported by the CIA. After that in the 1960s he lived in Berkeley, California. Returned to Taiwan in 1972 and died peacefully there. Ku Meng-yu was a brilliant man, affable and with a sparkle in his eyes. He was able to instantly grasp the fundamentals of any situation or subject. He was able to work successfully across the board during a century of turmoil in China.
Accomplishments: Talent in a Turbulant Age 乱世奇人
Summer of 1928 together with 顾孟余, 汪精卫、陈公博 established a council to reform the Kuomingtong party. He was responsible for the journal "Forward" 《前进》as the propanganda instrument. It directly confronted Chiang Kai Shek's heavy handed methods. They directly challenged Chiang for party leadership. Chiang suspended his party membership for 3 years in 1929. Ku continued the challenge during this time. Chiang Kai shek accepted him as one the few people whose challenges were legitimate.
The railway system was a mess left over from Qing Dynasty corruption when he became Railway Minister in 1932. It was a collection of segments with no common physical of personnel standards. The Guangdong line went nowhere in 30 years of construction. He undertook a complete overhaul beginning with national standards modelled on the German system and financed it through a national bonds. He implemented it by employing the younger generation and by recruiting overseas educated engineers. It was an age of turmoil but also an age when everything was possible. He understood that and knew how to motivate those who worked for him. The system was under control within 2 years. Both Guangdong and Xian lines were completed. This achievement bore fruit both immediately and long term.
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Ku Meng Yu 顾孟余 was appointed President of Central University in 1941. The government institutions were modelled along the Soviet system with parallel uparty cadres at every level. First thing he did was to remove all cadres to assert academic freedom. He then understook a series of actions to enrich and broaden the curriculum. He also broadened the student base by more flexible entrance requirements. All thse were popular with the university community. One day in February 1942 Chiang Kai Shek delivered a speech at the university and Ku sent a deputy to attend in his place. Chiang was furious at this and publicly criticized him. Ku immediately resigned. This led to prolonged student protests and finally a strike. Chiang personally went to see him twice to withdraw the resignation but he still refused. It is the only known instance where Chiang publicly acknowledge an error. It was also the end of Ku's government service.
