President Obama Honors Professor Yunus with Medal of Freedom

President Barack Obama honored Professor Muhammad Yunus along with 16 other distinguished "agents of change" with the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom - America's highest civilian honor - at a ceremony held at the White House on August 12, 2009. The Medal of Freedom is awarded to individuals who make an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.

Professor Yunus joined Ms. Nancy Goodman Brinker, Dr. Pedro José Greer, Jr., Mr. Stephen Hawking, Jack Kemp, Senator Edward Kennedy, Ms. Billie Jean King, Reverent Joseph Lowery, Dr. Joe Medicine Crow - High Bird, Mr. Harvey Milk, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Mr. Sidney Poitier, Ms. Chita Rivera, Ms. Mary Robinson, Ms. Janet Davison Rowley, Bishop Desmond Tutu as the honorees for the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom.

President Obama said, "These outstanding men and women represent an incredible diversity of backgrounds. Their tremendous accomplishments span fields from science to sports, from fine arts to foreign affairs. Yet they share one overarching trait: Each has been an agent of change. Each saw an imperfect world and set about improving it, often overcoming great obstacles along the way. Their relentless devotion to breaking down barriers and lifting up their fellow citizens sets a standard to which we all should strive. It is my great honor to award them the Medal of Freedom.
"The recipients of the Medal of Freedom did not set out to win this or any other award. They did not set out in pursuit of glory or fame or riches. Rather, they set out, guided by passion, committed to hard work, aided by persistence, often with few advantages but the gifts, grace, and good name God gave them.

"So, let them stand as an example here in the United States - and around the world - of what we can achieve in our own lives. Let them stand as an example of the difference we can make in the lives of others. Let each of their stories stand as an example of a life well lived," he added.

Report by: Tamim Islam

Indian Prime Minister
Welcomes Professor Yunus

"I am delighted to be here today on the occasion of the second Prof. Hiren Mukherjee Memorial Lecture. I welcome and greet Prof. Muhammad Yunus who will deliver this highly prestigious address. Prof. Yunus is truly an exceptional human being and it is really a privilege to be in his company. He has been a professor of economics, a civil servant and a social worker. His work demonstrates the great power of ideas. In his case his path is best described by anUrdu couplet Main Akela Hi Chala Tha Janebe Manjil Magar Log Milte Gaye aur Carvan Banta Gaya. Prof. Yunus is one of those exceptional human beings who has successfully applied his knowledge of economics and society for reducing the poverty of millions and millions of men and women. In this he has indeed been a great visionary of our times. We have much to learn from the recipient of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize and I once again applaud and salute his work and his presence here amidst us. I also congratulate Smt. Meira Kumar, Speaker of the Lok Sabha for having invited Prof. Yunus to address.

The Prof. Hiren Mukherjee Memorial Lecture was instituted by the previous Speaker Shri Somnath Chatterjee. Though he is not present here today, he deserves a special thanks for this initiative. I am sure this annual event will continue to inform and educate us greatly in the years to come.

The speaker last year was another Nobel Laureate, Prof. Amartya Sen. While welcoming him I had mentioned about his passion for inclusive growth which could improve the lives of the poorest and the most underprivileged sections of our society. This is a passion which today's speaker Prof. Yunus shares with Prof. Amartya Sen. Their work is different but there is so much in common in the motivation that drives both their works.

Prof. Yunus has revolutionized the idea of micro credit and made it accessible to the poorest of the poor. His declaration that "Credit is a human right" is a powerful expression of what he believes in. He has brought about a paradigm shift in reaching out to the dispossessed and the disinherited. His work has especially touched poor women and empowered them. Indeed Prof. Hiren Mukherjee would have been very happy today were he to listen to Prof. Yunus today for Prof. Yunus embodies in himself many of the ideals that Prof. Mukherjee lived for. The title of today's lecture "Social Business - A Step Towards Creating a New Economic and Social Order" would have appealed to both the communist and liberal in Prof. Mukherjee because it is a subject that explores the possibility of a more egalitarian society through the power of new ideas.

As we pay tribute to the memory of an outstanding scholar and parliamentarian, a man whose life was one of tireless service to the cause of the poor, a great son of our country. I will not take more of your time. Like all of you, I look forward to the lecture by Prof. Yunus, which I am sure is going to be both exciting and enlightening."

http://www.pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=55563