A BETTER INDIA A BETTER WORLD

A Better India A Better World by N.R.Narayana Murthy ; Published by Penguin ;Pages 290; Price Rs499/-

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N.R. Narayana Murthy is the man behind one of the biggest I T ventures in India. He is the Founder-Chairman of Infosys Technologies Limited, a global software consulting company . To gauge the strength of Infosys, we recall his words, “We are a company with fifty thousand people, we operate in thirty eight countries; and we have people of forty-five nationalities”.
He serves on the boards of Unilever, HSBC, NDTV, Ford Foundation and the UN Foundation. He also serves on the boards of Cornell University, Wharton School, Singapore Management University, Indian Institute of Information Technology, INSEAD. He is a living legend and an exemplary leader. His life has proved that honesty, transparency and moral integrity can co-exist with business acumen. The London Economist ranked Narayana Murthy among the most-admired global leaders in 2005. He topped the Economic Times list of India’s most powerful CEOs for three consecutive years: 2004 to 2006. He has been awarded the Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India, the Legion d’Honneur by the Government of France, and the CBE by the British government.

Narayana Murthy has proved that it is possible to benchmark with the global best from India. Our earlier Prime Minister, Shri.Vajpayee is reported to have stated that earlier foreigners would visit India, see the Taj Mahal and a few temples. Today they have begun asking for software engineers from India. Infosys has a paramount role in making


this happen. There has been a sea-change in attitude to business after Infosys. Businessmen are being invited to join the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council.

The author says it it is extremely important not only to have a great idea, but also ensure that all the effort is invested to ensure the idea is executed in the right manner. Business must be pursued legally and ethically. Entrepreneurs must ensure that the value system is adhered to by them and they must live by the principle that the softest pillow is a clear conscience. Narayana Murthy believes in creating an environment of openness, discussion, debate, pluralism and meritocracy.

While India is the world’s largest democracy, about 300 million Indians are still prey to hunger, illiteracy and disease, and 53 per cent of India’s children are still undernourished. So the author asks some pertinent questions. What will it take for India to overcome poverty? When will the fruits of development reach the poorest of the poor, and wipe the tears from the eyes of every man, woman and child, as Mahatma Gandhi had dreamt? And how should this, our greatest challenge ever, be negotiated?. All these questions and more are answered by Narayana Murthy in this testament. In this extraordinarily inspiring and visionary book, N.R. Narayana Murthy, who pioneered, designed and executed the Global Delivery Model that has become the cornerstone of India’s success in information technology services outsourcing, shows us that a society working for the greatest welfare of the greatest number must focus on two simple things: values and good leadership. Drawing on the remarkable Infosys



story and the lessons learnt from the two decades of post-reform India, Narayana Murthy lays down the ground rules that must be followed if future generations are to inherit a truly progressive nation.
The book has 38 speeches, culled out of over 150 speeches he has made in the last few years, dealing with a variety of subjects, to audiences both in India and abroad. Subjects covered are Students, Values, National Issues, Education, Leadership, Corporate and Public Governance, Corporate Responsibility, Philanthropy, Entrepreneurship, Globalisation and of course Infosys. It is a manifesto for the youth, the architects of the future, and a compelling argument for why a better India holds the key to a better world. He reveals his vision of a better life through innovative entrepreneurship. He is an avid believer of economic reforms and globalization. According to him the market should act as an arbiter and the government a facilitator.

As one reads the book under review one is convinced of how the author achieved excellence through his basic decency, transparent honesty. Narayana Murthy’s panacea for our poverty lies in entrepreneurship that results in job creation on a huge scale. His experience with Infosys is the sheet anchor of his credo.

He argues convincingly of the paramount role of Corporates to contribute to eradication of poverty by ploughing a portion of the wealth they create. He gives a succinct analysis of the growth of Infosys with his firm conviction not to compromise on principles. The course of his life was changed by a meeting with a famous American computer engineer in 1968 when he was a graduate student in IIT Kanpur.



He discussed exciting developments in the field of computer science, explaining how they would alter our future. The student was hooked and hitched his bandwagon to the stars. It is a matter of surprise that in 1991 serious discussions were held to sell Infosys for a million dollars. He recalls the travails he bore patiently including delays by R B I (of which he later became a Central Board Director ), “the long waits of four to six hours to obtain part of our own hard-earned dollars to support my other six other founders”. He ruefully recalls how he had to pledge the jewellery of Sudha Murthy to raise money for the maintenance of his six colleagues who were engaged in project sites in foreign countries.

Narayana Murthy warmly supports transfer of farm labour on a large scale to manufacturing units to reduce our poverty level and quotes the success of China. He argues for role models in public life and believes in visionary leadership to solve our country’s gargantuan problems. No better advice could be given than the last lines of the book—“Be original, daring different and unreasonable. Work hard, have good values, put the interest of the country in every deed of yours and make this country the best place in the world”.


P.P.Ramachandran.