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By Shamima Amin-Methu
The 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Prof. Yunus, is like a rare gem. This rare gem should be displayed in the National Museum as a treasured showpiece; instead, some people in Bangladesh are trying to break the gem into pieces to verify its purity. There is no need to destroy this treasured gem in the name of purity verification.
Bangladesh has always been known as one of the poorest nations in the world and for its natural disasters, floods, cyclones, etc. However, Prof Yunus depicted Bangladesh differently. He made the world realise that Bangladesh may be poor in terms of resources but it is rich in producing brilliant minds like him who can help the whole world. He has been helping the poor and the women, the two most neglected groups, for decades in Bangladesh and around the globe,
His social business ideas are brilliant. They solved social problems which had been in existence for many years. Social Business is an impressive way to satisfy the needs of needy people. There are not many individuals in Bangladesh who constantly think about improving the lives of the poor and needy, who are in desperate need of help to survive.
Prof. Yunus not only thinks about their day-to-day needs, he also thinks about their education -- the key to their future success. He has established nursing schools in collaboration with foreign universities to train poor women so that they can stand on their own feet and at the same time help their families.
Prof. Yunus is also concerned about the health of the poor. There are so many poor children who suffer from malnutrition. He introduces a special yogurt called "Shakti," which has all the vitamins and minerals that are essential for children's nourishment, in collaboration with Danone (a world renowned yogurt company). If a malnourished child eats this yogurt for several months, he/she won't have malnutrition problem.
The great humanitarian and observer, Prof. Yunus, noticed that the poor people in villages didn't wear shoes, and in many cases suffered from parasitical diseases. He requested the world known shoe company Adidas to make shoes for the poor at a very low cost. At first the company was hesitant because they wouldn't be able to make profit, but Prof. Yunus convinced them to do so.
Prof. Yunus made a big difference in poor people's lives. The families that took help from Prof Yunus' organisations are now producing doctors, engineers and professionals.
I salute this noble soul, a Bangladeshi native, the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Prof. Muhammad Yunus. I urge my fellow Bangladeshis to preserve this rare gem and give proper honour and respect to the only Nobel Prize winner from Bangladesh. Instead of harassing this honourable man, please let him shine like a luminous star in the sky so that the world can see its everlasting beauty.
The writer is an Information Scientist in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=178606
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