Sunday, October 15, 2006

The Nobel Peace Prize to Grameen Bank

Eid came early to Bangladesh this year, with the Nobel Peace Prize going at long last to Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank. Bangladeshis were ecstatic but not surprised by the news. Ever since Bill Clinton wrote in My Life that Mr. Yunus should have received the award long ago, it was just a matter of when not if.

Coincidentally, I have been reading Banker to the Poor, the autobiography of Mr. Yunus, lately. It is a highly readable book distinguished by humble candor. Mr. Yunus lovingly talks about growing up in rural and urban Bangladesh in the 1940s and 50s, traveling the world in his teens as a boy scout, living through the political and social turmoil of the era, pursuing higher education in the U.S. in the 60s, falling in love with a Russian-American and marrying her, returning to the newly independent Bangladesh, struggling professionally and personally immensely in his war-ravaged country, the latter because his foreigner wife simply could not adjust. Of course, during this period he also began to think about ways to address the acute poverty he saw around his Chittagong University campus, where he taught Economics.

I find the book a good read more for the social observations than the success story of Mr. Yunus or the Grameen Bank. Particularly compelling is the section on the initial difficulties of getting micro credit going, when rural women just wouldn't come out of their houses to talk about money, and how they could not believe their eyes when they received their first loan as they had never handled cash before. What happens to the same women in mere months is as good an example of empowerment as it gets.

On a rather sour note amid the jubilation, the Economist has come up with an article claiming that the Nobel Peace Prize has lost its way, and that Grameen was not an appropriate choice as micro-credit is not exactly "peacemaking." I find the article characterized by intellectual hubris. Even a cursory look at the list of past winners would reveal that the award has been about humanitarianism, which encompasses a larger and deeper idea than peacemaking. Hence the Nobel has been given to missionaries (Mother Teresa, 1979 and Albert Schweitzer, 1953), an agriculture scientist (Norman Bourlaug, 1970), and a writer (Elie Wiesel, 1986). Did the Economist object to those awards as well?

That this year's prize went to an institution and individual who have done wonders for poor women's financial and social conditions in a predominantly Muslim society underscores the Nobel Committee's impeccable sense of timing. In these troubled times when ominous beliefs like "clash of civilizations" are taking hold, it is deeply heartening to see an idea that aims to lift the downtrodden transcend cultures and civilizations, and receive global recognition.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I could not agree more. Rewarding Muhammed Yunus for his work and contribution to reducing poverty is well deserved. I remember him at conferences and he was quite successful at conveying his message, including the use of micro credit as tool to fight poverty in both developed and developing countries.

Interesting though that he got the Nobel Peace Prize but not the Economics one for his work on microcredit. Although, on the whole, the peace prize is probably more prestigious!

Anonymous said...

Well, given that the Peace Prize is one of the core prizes it is a tad bit more prestigious than the Economics award, as it was not part of the original ones.

Anonymous said...

Nicely written and who cares for the Economist anyway. I cannot imagine a more deserving person - no doubt when people get frustrated by inequality and poverty - they should turn into Al Qaeda - rather than think of a way out. Thereafter when they give up arms they will be hailed as pecamakers.

shadhu said...

BTW, the October 14 Wall Street Journal has a nice op-ed by Mr. Yunus. It deals with what the U.S. can learn from Bangladesh about post-disaster economic recovery (in the context of Hurricane Katrina's aftermath).

Anonymous said...

What delightful news!! Finally a well deserved Nobel Prize for Dr. Yunus. It took years to come.
I join all in rejoicing in this great recognition for a true son of the soil and champion of the down trodden. May our hero be able to serve his people for a long long time.

Anonymous said...

Uplifting the plight of women surely is a good argument for promoting stability and peace. They have a point, but instead of deploring the absence of peacemakers in times of war, they could highlight the role of "peacemakers" in times of peace, that is, those who help prevent difficult situations from getting worse.

shadhu said...

Well said, Nina!

Anonymous said...

check out this article on hunger and violence.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6054938.stm