Two Books Launched
Prof Yunus tells stories of his boyhood travel
Some 56 years ago, Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus had been nominated for attending World Scouts Jamboree when he was a student of class X at Chittagong Collegiate School.
When asked why he wanted to join the jamboree, 15-year-old Yunus told the chief national commissioner of scout during his interview that he would write a travel story.
Prof Yunus kept his word as he maintained a diary despite many obstacles during his six months trip to the countries of North America, Europe and Middle East at the age of 15.
This datebook, which contained many adventurous experiences, was published recently in the form of a book named Balak Poribrajoker Dinlipi.
The book launch was held at the Institute of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh at Kakrail in the city yesterday. Suborno is the publisher of the book.
“I got astounded when I read the stories in the form of a book, as it is like a document,” said Prof Yunus. The book is a record of immediate post-world war period, he added.
“Seeing the book my respect to the age 15 has increased.” The 15-year-olds now are more mature, but we are not giving them the scope to build their lives, said Yunus.
The Nobel peace prize winner also said the youths would feel encouraged about world tour at their age and their confidence would also increase if they read the book.
Ten lakh scouts of the country should get the book by which they would get a chance to get acquainted with a scout, Muhammad Yunus, said former chief national commissioner of Bangladesh Scouts, Muhammad Fazlur Rahman.
“He [Yunus] wrote down everyday expenditure on the book which showed that this man would be a banker to the poor,” said Rahman.
Prof Emiratus Dr Anisuzzaman said the diary contains many pieces of information and depicts the picture of livelihood of that period with the observation of a tourist.
Another book titled Onno Diner Yunus, a collection of write-ups on Prof Yunus by 15 people, was also unveiled yesterday. Dr Shamsul Hossain edited the book published by Mawla Brothers.
In the book Yunus’s teachers, students, colleagues, family members, and others presented his personality the way they observed, said Prof Mansur Musa, former director general of Bangla Academy.
Former adviser to a caretaker government, Hossain Zillur Rahman, said the notion of retirement is not applicable for Prof Yunus because of his spirit of working.
Yunus has the efficiency and strength to give something to the society and so we all should possess a wide view to accept him, he said.
Courtesy of The Daily Star
