Making a Difference

A 1971 Vanderbilt University alumnus, Muhammad Yunus is one of 16 individuals selected by President Barack Obama to receive the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom. Yunus, who received his Ph. D. in economics from Vanderbilt, was awarded America’s highest civilian honor in August for his pioneering work in micro-loans and anti-poverty efforts. He received the Nobel Peace Prize for these eff orts in 2006.
  While traveling in Bangladesh over the summer, senior Banks Benitez had the opportunity to visit Grameen Bank, the bank Yunus started. While there, he met with the Nobel Prize winner. Yunus advised students to think simply, start small and act quickly to change the world.
 Vanderbilt Hustler: What advice do you have for people who say they want to “save the world”?
 Muhammad Yunus: If you want to save the world, you must have a vision for the world you want to see. You have to have the picture in your mind of the ideal world. Th en you should notice the differences between the real world and your ideal world and strive to fix those problems and bridge the gap between the real and the ideal. Look at the most pressing problems and solve those.
 VH: What do you think is the biggest problem in the world today?
 MY: The biggest problem in the world today is the culmination of all the crises. We have an energy crisis, a food crisis, a fi nancial crisis, an environmental crisis and a social crisis with all the inequality in the world. We have caused these crises because we have a conceptual failure of humanity. For so many years, we have only focused on the selfi shness of humanity. We have considered that humanity is only selfish. However, we are not 100 percent selfi sh. Th e selfl essness of humanity has been excluded. That is the problem.
 VH: You said in “Banker to the Poor” (your autobiography) that when you were teaching in the classroom at Chittagong University, you felt that what you were teaching was not applicable to helping those people in Bangladesh. I oftentimes wrestle with what economic theory says is the right thing to do versus what my heart says is the right thing to do. For example, economics say that we shouldn’t help beggars on the street because it de-incentivizes them and doesn’t empower them. But my heart says that I should give them something. How does one reconcile this interplay?
 MY: Economic theory is simply that — theory. Theory is extracted from reality. Economic theory is only an approximation off the real world. I believe that we should never focus too much on these theories. We should always fall back on the truth of the real world. If the truth of the real world tells you to help the beggar, then you should do it. However, you must consider what type of help is the most benefi cial. Help him/her in a way that doesn’t take away dignity.
 VH: What was the best advice you ever received and from whom?
 MY: I don’t know if anyone ever told me this, but the best advice I have is to make yourself available to people. See if you can be of use to people and help them.
 VH: One day, someone else will run Grameen Bank. What advice will you give to your successor on how to run Grameen Bank?
 MY: Grameen Bank is here to help. It is not to bring misery to people. We are here to relieve misery from people. Also,
  Grameen Bank is owned by the borrowers of the bank. We are here to serve them. We are their employees.
 VH: You say that it is only our arrogance which leads us to seek complicated solutions to simple problems. How has this statement been true in your life?
 MY: Yes, yes. The key is to start simple. Academia has trained us to complicate everything. I deal with people all the time who are trying to over-complicate problems and interactions. Th ey get frustrated with me because I always try to consider things in simple terms first. People don’t understand when I start simple. Academia has allowed simple facts to be ignored.
 VH: What is the most important message graduating Vanderbilt students need to hear?
 MY: You don’t need to wait to change the world. Have faith in your capacity. Even one person can change the world. Start small and replicate the seed. All you need is one seed, and then copy it.
 VH: What advice do you have for an aspiring journalist?
 MY: Learn from your reality. Present the world as you see it. Don’t theorize and don’t make judgments.
 VH: What books do you suggest graduating Vanderbilt students to read?
 MY: I don’t have any specifi c books. Read what you want