The Mortenson Way
Some people are meant to do some amazing things for this world, making it a much better place for us. Greg Mortenson is doing it his way.
"Three Cups Of Tea" which is essentially a biography of this phenomenal personality had given me all the chronological details of his life. But actually listening to his story from the man himself, told me that this guy was for real! I got this opportunity to listen to him at a lecture in the premises of the Colorado State University, Fort Collins. It struck to me that people could actually do such things: they can survive the worst, come out stronger and forge effective changes for the human good.
"Failure", which is also the name of the first chapter in his book, has literally been his stepping stone to success. In 1993, devastated by the death of his sister, he decided to summit the K2 , the world's second highest peak, in her honor. He failed to complete this mission. Barely surviving the ordeal he reached the village of Korphe, in Baltistan. (Baltistan is located in Northern Pakistan in the disputed PoK or Pakistan occupied Kashmir and is situated in the mountainous Karakoram range to the south of K2). He was moved by the hospitality effortlessly endowed on him by these people in spite of their impoverished living conditions. He saw that the children there made a challenging trek each day to their only school. They wanted to learn but didn't have enough resources to be taught well. They desperately needed better infrastructure and means of basic education. He then decided to come back with the necessary resources to build a school.
Many of us think of doing such things, but how many of us really "come back" to do them? This is where Greg's story changes.
He came back, despite the challenges the task proposed. It was one thing to raise the money he needed and another to raise people's trust in him. People who would give him money, people who would build his school and people who would send their children to these schools. He had to gain their trust while he himself was unsure of what would eventually turn out of this. I particularly laud his efforts to build relationships with the people of Pakistan. It must have taken him a while to be led into their community, to be accepted as part of them. And not be looked upon as a foreigner, a spy or a crook. Mortenson details how he learnt of their language, attire and daily customs including performing the roza which could ease his acceptance amongst them. Of course, he also survived a kidnapping bid by the Taliban and peacefully tackled two fatwas issued against him. At the end of each of these trials, he was declared to be a person whose sole purpose of being in Pakistan was to educate children by building schools. He eventually gained immense support from the local people who contributed heartily to his mission.
"Three Cups Of Tea" which is essentially a biography of this phenomenal personality had given me all the chronological details of his life. But actually listening to his story from the man himself, told me that this guy was for real! I got this opportunity to listen to him at a lecture in the premises of the Colorado State University, Fort Collins. It struck to me that people could actually do such things: they can survive the worst, come out stronger and forge effective changes for the human good.
"Failure", which is also the name of the first chapter in his book, has literally been his stepping stone to success. In 1993, devastated by the death of his sister, he decided to summit the K2 , the world's second highest peak, in her honor. He failed to complete this mission. Barely surviving the ordeal he reached the village of Korphe, in Baltistan. (Baltistan is located in Northern Pakistan in the disputed PoK or Pakistan occupied Kashmir and is situated in the mountainous Karakoram range to the south of K2). He was moved by the hospitality effortlessly endowed on him by these people in spite of their impoverished living conditions. He saw that the children there made a challenging trek each day to their only school. They wanted to learn but didn't have enough resources to be taught well. They desperately needed better infrastructure and means of basic education. He then decided to come back with the necessary resources to build a school.
Many of us think of doing such things, but how many of us really "come back" to do them? This is where Greg's story changes.
He came back, despite the challenges the task proposed. It was one thing to raise the money he needed and another to raise people's trust in him. People who would give him money, people who would build his school and people who would send their children to these schools. He had to gain their trust while he himself was unsure of what would eventually turn out of this. I particularly laud his efforts to build relationships with the people of Pakistan. It must have taken him a while to be led into their community, to be accepted as part of them. And not be looked upon as a foreigner, a spy or a crook. Mortenson details how he learnt of their language, attire and daily customs including performing the roza which could ease his acceptance amongst them. Of course, he also survived a kidnapping bid by the Taliban and peacefully tackled two fatwas issued against him. At the end of each of these trials, he was declared to be a person whose sole purpose of being in Pakistan was to educate children by building schools. He eventually gained immense support from the local people who contributed heartily to his mission.
In 1996, the Korphe school was completed. So far he has built 78 schools. He co-founded the Central Asia Institute which has grown to be a big organization promoting education in the remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. By providing education, these schools are becoming the messiahs of peace. The children in these disputed lands are now getting an unbiased understanding of their current situation and are able to empower themselves fruitfully. This would eventually propel them towards resisting radical forces and opting a peaceful life. He believes that educating girls would take us a big step ahead in overcoming problems of infant mortality, over population, basic hygiene amongst other issues. He also formulated the 'pennies for peace' ideology which enables children in many schools of the United States to fund the education of their many underprivileged counterparts.
Greg is all about positivity, energy and hope. His ever smiling countenance and humility speak for him. As a true American , he is generous and humane. His global outlook has sent out a very important message to the world : One can bring about peace, by reaching out to the underprivileged. By eradicating ignorance and brightening the darkest parts of this world with the light of education.. His humanitarian work has yet again proven that compassion and love know no borders.
I find it extraordinary that his one unsuccessful journey led him to a series of successful ones. But what on earth made him "come back" to a place he would rather avoid while in the luxury of America? Well, Greg ended his speech with these words: "When the heart speaks, take good notes! "
Learn an
d do more for Greg's cause. Visit these websites:
http://www.threecupsoftea.com/
https://www.ikat.org/
http://www.penniesforpeace.org/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This post also appeared as a guest blog at http://thoughtsunparalleled.wordpress.com/2009/09/04/the-mortenson-way/. Check it out to find other interesting articles !
Comments
hope he wins the Noble Peace prize this year..
@swagat: yes, very true. and let us hope so!
@adi: i know!!!! :)
@niki: ya ya i need to be 'inspired' to write.. sumne alla!n i thought my blogs were reallly long for u :P
@ash: thanks!
---------------------
"People do! At least some do...the mad lot like me! Seems u r also in the minority group wid me...
Hope v bcum majority someday and India changes..changes 4 good...
~@ngshu"