Distinctive Contribution

Last week, while browsing my satellite programs, I was attracted by a reality American television show called the Bank of Hollywood of the channel 1 Showtime Satellite. The show is based on the UK series titled “Fortune: Million Pound Giveaway”. It was about four panel members of prominent American celebrities who were tasked to evaluate the genuineness and eligibility of any American citizens who were asking for financial support to achieve success and realize their dreams. The four panel members shall grant them the financial support – the requested money after they were impressed and convinced by the ‘presentation’ of each ‘applicants’. The one-hour show was filled with entertainment – laughter, cynical remarks and to some extend shedding tears – by people from all walks of life, professions, and talents came with different colors and creativity, compelling while trying to win the panel’s heart. The story that I wanted to share here was about a single mom, who out of her passion and kindness, have been adopting fifty five (55) handicap boys since many years ago (I could not recall the exact years). She was requesting for USD 73,000 to buy a handicap-friendly van to ease her daily routine in transporting her ‘sons’ to school ad other places. She bought them good clothing; provided them with very decent accommodation and shelter; prepared them good healthy food and most of all, educated them with appropriate knowledge. They live a happy life. Well, her compelling stories had not only convinced the panel but shed tears of all audiences and viewers – including me who was also embarrassed by a non-wealthy single non-Muslim mom, who had sacrifice her life aspiring and inspiring other.

Akin to the above, is the story of another distinctive figure, the founder of Grameen Bank - Muhammad Yunus. He was born in 28th June, 1940 in the village of Bathua, in Hathazari, Chittagong, the business centre of what was then Eastern Bengal. He was the third of 14 children of whom five died in infancy. His father was a successful goldsmith who always encouraged his sons to seek higher education. However, his biggest influence though was his mother, Sufia Khatun, who always helped any poor that knocked on their door. This inspired him to commit himself to eradication of poverty. In 1947, his family moved to the city of Chittagong, where his father had the jewelry business.
In 1974, Professor Muhammad Yunus, a Bangladeshi economist from Chittagong University, led his students on a field trip to a poor village. They interviewed a woman who made bamboo stools, and learnt that she had to borrow the equivalent of 15p to buy raw bamboo for each stool made. After repaying the intermediary, sometimes at rates as high as 10% a week, she was left with a penny profit margin. Had she been able to borrow at advantageous rates, she would have been able to amass an economic cushion and raise herself above subsistence level.
Realizing that there must be something terribly wrong with the economics he was teaching, he took matters into his own hands, and from his own pocket lent the equivalent of money to the basket-weavers. He found that it was possible with this tiny amount not only to help them survive, but also to create the spark of personal initiative and enterprise necessary to pull themselves out of poverty.
To cut the long story short, in 1983, with the principles of trust and solidarity, the Grameen Bank, which literally means 'village bank' was formed. In Bangladesh today, Grameen Bank has 1,084 branches, with 12,500 staff serving 2.1 million borrowers in 37,000 villages. On any working day, the Bank collects an average of $1.5 million in weekly installments. Of the borrowers, 94% are women and over 98% of the loans are paid back, a recovery rate higher than any other banking system. Their methods are applied in projects in 58 countries, including the US, Canada, France, the Netherlands and Norway.

The Muhammad Yunus story reminded me about prominent Malaysian trailblazers, one of the members of the Malaysian Billionaire club, Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhari. Came from a small village in the northern Malay Peninsula, he lived a simple life and has no high-end formal academic grooming. However, inspired by his mother, backed-up by his positive attitude, hard working, and strong conviction with his principles, has made him the top 10 recognized Malay businessman by Forbes. I will share his principles and perceptions about what a successful distinctive person should have in my next release.
Some how or rather, the stories had reminded me about what a true good Muslim should possess and do for the rest of Human Kind. The Prophet Muhammad saw (peace be upon him) had demonstrated and taught us about these noble distinctive aspect of human kind. He has left us with his sunnah for us to subscribe, which will enhance the human community so as to ensure real success.