http://es.scribd.

com/doc/212428247/Poverty#download
HS4350: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN DEVELOPMENT
Article review on Poverty by Majid Rahnema
- Arnav Choudhry
CE12B103

Majid Rahnema has captured the true essence of the concept of poverty in his short but
precise article. The article first tries to explain the concept of poverty. In a very apt manner, the
author states that the definition of poverty is as one interprets it. The author explains the
difference between a common misconception residing in the minds of the people about poverty
being a way of living without riches and complete destitution. It is oft relegated to work of fate or
such or freedom from material enslavement. He also makes it clear that although it is
considered very bad to be poor on todays world, earlier it used to be a noble way of life, using
the help of a plethora of examples like Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad, he gets the point
across.
The author explains of a different time when simplicity and frugality were the traits of a
different standard of living and such people were looked up to, rather than provided relief
packages. Earlier needs were simpler, people more socially helpful and convivial, and the
satirical homo oeconomicus not having humans in its clutch. In a very apt manner it is stated
that the word poor has gone from being an adjective to a substantive and poor people from
venerated to mocked. A new category of poverty has formed which has induced needs from the
society and lack of resources to fulfil them.
The author compares yesteryears poor to todays poverty stricken people commenting
that they used to transform lacks into assets but today they become destitute who lose their
inner strength completely and also the intelligence to act for themselves. This results in them
being taken advantage of by corrupt politicians, businessmen et al. The author describes this as
them falling into a poverty bed. He is disapproving of the campaigns held by modern economic
institutions, and rightly so, of so called helping poor people but just managing to create more
demand and hence more destitute people. Which just the opposite of what they claim to do. The
author has raised this point again and again in the article to emphasize on its importance. He
calls them the main producer of poverty through their policies like intolerable debts, forceful
liquidation of assets and the final transformation into a destitute. Indeed until these
organizations one sided policies thrive, there will be no end to poverty possible.
The author remarks that it is the play between the institutionalized autocratic power
and the elegant invisible form of power driven by markets and technocracy that are the main
culprits of this phenomenon. The author proposes that the only way to bring them out of this is
to make todays poor rethink their lifestyle, get them back in touch to their simple but fulfilling
lifestyle and most importantly make them realize that regeneration of ones riches is in his hand,
not someone elses, so their exploitation stops.