Nobel Prize and Indonesia

rofessor Muhammad Yunus, an economist from Bangladesh was finally awarded Nobel peace prize in October this year, surpassing the nomination of prominent figures such as former Finnish President Martii Ahtisaari, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, GAM leader Zaini Abdullah and his colleagues who played an important role in the Aceh peace process.
Muhammad Yunus has done to many people in need in his country people then realized how much he deserved the prestigious prize. At one time he felt his Ph.D degree in economics was meaningless if he couldn’t help his poor folks. He then established the Grameen Bank to help millions of poor people in Bangladesh. Although he didn’t do much to promote his work but his deeds did not unnoticed. The Nobel committee in Norway decided to award him the prize.

Yunus gained Ph.D degree in economics from Vanderbilt University, US but at one time he said that the degree was meaningless if he cannot help his poor folks in Bangladesh. When many people in Indonesia are thirsty of and starving for many university degrees, Yunus’ principle of life is very relevant for contemplation. The great education achievement and university degrees are meaningless if in the end they are not useful to help many who are in need. Probably we can add that the many bright stars on the shoulders of generals will be also meaningless if people are still starving of freedom and security.

Previously Mother Theresa from Calcutta was also awarded nobel prize for helping the poor. An Albanian descent, born as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Skopje, Macedonia decided to leave her own country and good family to help many of the poorest of the poor people in India. Her abundant life and nice home which was very much influenced by her courageous Christian father who commonly used to help the weak muslim neighbourhood from the attacks of their Christian friends. This is still relevant for Indonesia today. Although her father finally died from being poisoned by his Christian friends for the accusation of taking side with the muslim newcomers in the neighbourhoods, but her generous and tolerant father was very influential in her life that finally helped her decide to help many in need in India. Indonesians, especially in Poso, Maluku, need to learn from Mother Theresa’s father who was willingly help the weak although possessing different religion and faith.

The life of Muhammad Yunus and Mother Theresa must be with a lot of struggle and perseverance. Yunus began fighting poverty in 1974 in Bangladesh with a loan of only 27 dollars to save the poor from the moneylenders. Two years later he established the Grameen Bank, and now it has some 6,5 million borrowers most of them are poor. Mother Theresa had even risked her own life due to the hostile attitude of poor Indians who accusing her threatening the faith and religion of the people. However it was for their unceasing struggle and perseverance they deserved recognition from the international community, including the awarding of the noble prize.

Although Indonesia has not been awarded with nobel prize, it does not need to feel belittled. Like Muhammad Yunus, Indonesia does not need to chase the noble prize. When the deeds of Indonesia deserve noble prize, the international community will recognize that. Not that the promotion of Aceh peace process was not sufficient that the noble prize was not awarded for Aceh process, but there is something else that deserves it. Not that Habibie’s decision to grant second option leading to the independence of East Timor in 1999 was not recognized by the international community, but it was not worthy for the noble peace prize at the time. The writer Pramudya Ananta Toer had been several times nominated, yet the time was not yet prune.

However doing the noble thing is much more important than the nobel prize itself.

There must be some considerations for awarding the prize, however no body would argue that the noble recipients such as Mother Theresa and Muhammad Yunus who worked for many poor and needy do not deserve such a prize.

It is worthwhile to follow the life exemplified by Mother Theresa and Muhammad Yunus. Their dedication to help many poor people is even imperative for Indonesia at this stage with more than thirty millions are still living in poverty. Albeit the noble prize is not awarded, the impact of such wonderful lifes will contribute significantly to the development of Indonesia.