It all began in his bedroom, 10ft by 10 ft to be precise. In 1981, Narayan Murthy and his colleagues sat down to outline the objectives of the software company they were about to start. Opinions were offered. Murthy was clear: Infosys would aspire to be the most respected software services company in the world. Today, Infosys is not only one of the most respected, but also the largest software company in the world. In a time of questionable corporate ethics, demonstrated by the downfall of Satyam Computers, Murthy”s belief in the importance of values is comforting.
The role of values like respect is one that Murthy holds firmly and this belief has sustained the company for more than two decades. The book is a clear, sensible argument on what’s wrong with the country, why it is the way it is and how one could correct this.
This is the second piece of writing from an Infosys co-founder. Nandan Nilekani’s Imagining India was released late last year. It is easy to understand why these two men have sustained a successful software company (in fact, Murthy points out that longevity is the best parameter for a company). Both men are concerned about India’s responsibility at this juncture in world history. But while Imagining India relied greater on imagining a better India, Murthy demonstrates practically and reasonably what is wrong and how it can be set right.
Murthy’s concern’s are clear: what is the best way to take India forward, reward meritocracy yet uplift the poor, illiterate and the uneducated. Culling out experiences from his life, the book is a journey not only of Infosys, but a personal narrative of quiet reflection on how this country could and should surge ahead. Key questions, such as why India does not boast of any product of international class and recognition are addressed.
Should there be reason to take the man’s views on the future of the country seriously? There is. Murthy is much more than a successful businessman and this shines through clearly. Key concerns are child malnourishment the high levels of poverty and the poverty of intelligent politicians are a few of the several issues. The number of books that point out the woes of this country are many. But A Better India A Better World scores over others on two counts. First of all, the author is honest and determined to bring about change. A little known fact is that before using software to fuel entrepreneurship, Murthy concareers360_cmslated joining politics. He was keen to experiment with his economic philosophy: ‘the power of entreneurship to solve the problem of poverty’. Although he did not, his commitment to the cause was reflected when he set up Infosys. The book is a recognition and admission of the importance of values. Murthy argues that decency, fairness, transparency and accountability will indeed make the world better. The honesty, austerity and respect in work ethics Murthy lauds, is one he believes in. For example, he refers to a janitor as his “younger colleague”. Clearly, the generous advice is based on a lifetime of practicing it.
Murthy’s views are not politically coloured and therefore not subject to suspicion. While he applauds former BJP PM Vajpayee’s initiatives in selling India to the West, he is also appreciative of the integrity and honesty of Congressmen Kamal Nath, Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi. All this despite the back cover carrying a recommendation from the present PM, ManMohan Singh. The book is convincing in its honesty and political neutrality.
Again, it is difficult to pin a label on Murthy’s lapel. He respects the virtue of capitalism, but not without it benefiting the poor and the weak. He argues for ‘A Case for a More Open Free Trade Regime in India’, yet notes that the power of wealth is ‘the power to give it away’. He acknowledges the necessity for governmental intervention in alleviating poverty, but is critical of the policy of reservation. As he points out, the norm of reservations has made India the only country in the world where people compete to be recognized as a ‘backward’ class.
Narayan Murthy in A Better India and A Better World explores political and economic philosophy in an easy and absorbing manner. The book will find good audience in the young and impressionable. Being a collection of his speeches, it does get a little repetitive, but it works to the book’s advantage of persuading the readers to be better citizens, workers, relatives and humans, in a singularly sensible and articulate voice.
