TED Community » Asgar Fakhrudin

More About Me

I'm passionate about

Understanding spirituality and convergence of truth in all religions.

An idea worth spreading

PEACE - HARMONY - HONESTY

Comments

• TEDCred score: +4.10 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

• +1

  A comment on Conversation: What are some realistic and creative ways to reduce wealth inequality?

  May 22 2013: Reducing wealth inequality and increasing social cohesion is a difficult but not improbable, if society changes its mindset and comes out of the rut of interest. In Quran it is called Qardan Hasanah - Good Loan.
  Example. I have lost a job, have a family to support and am known to you personally, or through Organisation of Institute, whatever. You have surplus $10000 in bank earning a paltry interest. I have an idea, you have done the feasibility report and are convinced that my business idea or model will work and will help me generate modest income, at the same time I will be able to pay back in small installments your loan, and thereby be able to run my business or whatever. Just the crunch is, you will not be seeking any interest or share of profit. You will provide interest free loan.
  
  By this method in a very small way you will be helping me in increasing the wealth - the wealth disparity between you and me, will be reduced a wee bit and social cohesion will increase. Don't you agree ? Just give a try.
  
  In our Community this concept has been Institutionalized with proper safeguards, laws etc: and is working fine.

• A comment on Conversation: What happens after a TED or TEDx conference?

  May 5 2013: Genevieve you have raised a very important point - what next ? However, on the flip side, although no noticeable world wide movement has started on any Ted Talks and Ideas, on individual level - micro level the Ted platform, and here I am talking about myself, has made me sit up and reflect on various topics, and surely in my small world, I have tried to share the knowledge gained in my blogs and in my work and interactions.
  
  It has made me a better and an understanding person. I am sure many are benefiting by the Talks and discussions, and those who have wider reach and clout in their respective field or organizations, may be percolating the ideas and concepts gained from this platform to their colleagues, friends and family.
• +2

  A comment on Conversation: What is something you do that makes you genuinely happy?

  May 3 2013: Reaching out to one who thinks I can be of any assistance, brings me happiness. If appreciated in the bargain is an additional bonus.
• +1

  A comment on Conversation: Do we rely too heavily on technology for medical diagnosis?

  Mar 28 2013: Sharing my personal family experience of the machine and the medical specialist, in a nut shell. An electrical voltage fluctuation during an X-Ray of the Chest - the machine part. One of the leading Chest specialist is consulted, on the recommendation of the family doctor, he sees the x-ray and without much ado comes to the conclusion that Cancer is spreading fast, and rolls out a very grim scenario in front of the family members.
  
  Thank God some one in the family has the good sense to seek another medical opinion. This time round the machine declares, nothing is wrong !! The family member lived hail and hearty for another 10 years.

• A comment on Conversation: How can we best engage college students in the idea of learning instead of just getting a degree?

  Mar 25 2013: Simply by not making a college degree the pre-requisite for job selection. The company hiring people should appoint talented and practical recruitment managers, who have a deep understanding of the company for which they are recruiting. Like in the good old days :))
  
  It it so happens - utopia - than those who will enter colleges will learn to get true knowledge and wisdom and not learn to earn. I have just kept my answer limited to your question - how best to engage college students to the idea of learning - the above is one such idea.
  http://www.hikmaah.com/showartcl.asp?article=13

• A comment on Conversation: If you try to fail and you succeed, what have you accomplished?

  Mar 18 2013: In the context of arranged marriages prevalent in may countries, at times it so happens that the girl who is not ready to marry or does not like the prospective groom, does all that she can to fail to make an impression, but in so many cases, it so happens that the relationship clicks, the marriage crosses many a milestones.
  
  Thus at times, if it is our destiny, no matter how hard we try to fail, we succeed.Now the question :what you accomplished ?
  The truth that there is ONE WHO HAS IT ALL PLANNED OUT !

• A reply on Conversation: What makes the TED talk click ? Original innovative ideas or that which titles the baser human instinct ?

  Mar 11 2013: oops. Thanks for pointing out the typo. I have made the correction. Also thank you for sharing your views. It has been helpful in a way.
• +1

  A comment on Conversation: Do you believe the human brain will continue to increase its capabilities?

  Mar 7 2013: What I feel is that our collective brain is living in 'the present' it continues to absorb and grow depending upon the time it is in. 3000 years in the past it acquired and evolved to absorb all that was needed for its growth and grappling with the than realities of living. 3000 years in to the future, it will be performing in the same manner. We as humans are mere 'observers' of a wondrous phenomena.

• A comment on Conversation: $500 Billion - can this solve the big problems?

  Feb 24 2013: 'Give it Away' set up by Bill and Melinda Gates is ever growing, and indeed their intention to alleviate poverty and raise standard of living of the downtrodden and marginalized is a noble initiative. Just the other day Azim Hashim Premji of Wipro pledged $ 2.3 billion and with earlier pledges he enters the rank of top five. Another friend of Azim Premji CEO of Biscon - Mazumdar Shaw has disclosed to Forbes that she has pledged to give away 75 % of her wealth.
  
  All these are world business leaders with a philanthropic heart, and they have a team of experts to guide them and take right decisions. So we should be positive. $ 500 billion will not solve all the problems, but surely it will solve many a problems being faced by the very poor of the world.
  
  There is section of the very poor, who need direct aid. It is also true that - ' If you give a man a fish........' for this section of the marginalized, an environment of equal opportunity has to be created, and for all projects, funding is needed. The concept of 'interest free long term loan' is what I feel go a long way in helping many to become self sufficient in life.
  
  A part of the corpus from 'Give it Away' should be channelized to small projects, where the repayments are worked out after due consideration of the income generation component, so that there is no lapse in the repayment. It may be small, but the criteria is it should be regular. Thus funds return back after doing the necessary good, so that they can be again made to 'take the road' do good and return, to start again. Just an idea I have shared.

• A reply on Conversation: How do we prove an answer

  Feb 21 2013: why one comes into existence. Plotinus had this to say: 'Bonum diffusm sui' - good diffuses itself. His theory of emanation will hopefully provide with the answer.