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February 11, 2007

The Romantic Middle Class

Bangla Version
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Go For It
• Let us dream
• Council of custodians
• We welcome the move
• The Romantic Middle Class
• Cautious Welcome

Don't Do It
• Bad Idea
• They won't support you
• Delink yourself first
• You will ruin yourself
• Not your piece of cake

News Links
Feb 14, 2007

• Prof. Yunus to form his party within this month
• Prof. Yunus to run in next election
• Dr. Yunus and his political journey
• I will leave Grameen Bank


Feb 13, 2007

• Prothom Alo
• Daily Star
• Janakantha

Dear Prof. Yunus:

You have every right to start a political party. This is also a good time for you (I repeat, for You) to join the politics. We, however, have to remember that you are just a man, not a magician. You cannot bring an overnight change. Your fate in politics will be decided by the people of Bangladesh, not by the (so-called) romantic-middleclass.

The "romantic middleclass" (in a broader sense), historically, have a tendency to underestimate the intellect of the majority of the population (particularly the poor). For example, they often think that:

1. Majority of the people did not have any idea about what was going on in 1971.
2. Poor do not have the ability to think rationally.
3. An illiterate person is also uneducated.

This class of people are often influenced by the "False Paradigm (One size fits all)" models of development/ economics/ politics. The very myopic nature of the romantic middleclass can destroy a revolution (for example, the communist movements in Bangladesh in the 70s). Most dangerously, the romantic middleclass always advocates for the extreme. For example:

1. Kill all the corrupts (trial!)
2. Kill all the terrorists (trial!!)
3. Let us forget the past and look for the future (trials!!!)
4. We need a Mahathir (growth vs censorship, oppression, nepotism, corruption, many many many many white elephant projects)

Dear Sir, I do not have the wisdom or guts to advise a man of your stature. I, however, have the experience of active politics. I was a student leader in Govt. Titumir College and played an active role in the movements during 89-91. I am waiting for your Manifesto. I want to know your socio-political goals (short, medium and long term) and your plan to achieve those. I would like to study your moves in politics for at least 6 months before reaching to any conclusion.

M. Mokhles Hossain
York University
Toronto, Canada.