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© 2012 Sanjeev Sabhlok's revolutionary blog
I don't know how this man Narayana Murthy gets the audacity to lecture to others about doing something.
For nine years now I have been trying to get him (or Nandan Nilikani) interested in CITIZENSHIP – namely, in the process of active participation in the affairs of their nation. Numerous email communications I've had with both of them (the fact that I no longer bother write to these hypocrites should be self-evident). I even met both of them. They pretend to be "supportive" of the ideas I advocate but then do nothing.
One of them even asked me to consider joining an existing party to which I responded that I have something valuable: self-respect. Something they don't seem to either have or understand. Their "honesty" means nothing if it doesn't translate into self-respect.
Now, it is true that I wouldn't have even bothered to connect with them if they were an Ambani – a family widely known to use bribes as the primary method to conduct its business. These people actually had some standing in the public eye (and in my eyes) at one time.
Unfortunately (for India and for their own reputation), they don't seem to notice any discrepancy in LECTURING others even as they sit on the sideline as smug observers. (I'm by now also almost certain that they fund or otherwise connive with at least the Congress party, if not others. I'm unable to any longer distinguish them from the Ambanis and other crony capitalists of India.).
During the lecture Murthy gave a few days ago he is reported to have said that the biggest malady of the country at present was the apathy to social problems. "We feel that problems surrounding us belong to somebody else. We do not take action or rather postpone the decision".
Nicely said, Mr Murthy, but SINCE WHEN HAVE YOU DONE ANYTHING ABOUT INDIA'S PROBLEMS? Only complain endlessly (or bribe the corrupt?).
The ONLY thing I've seen from you in the last nine years are lectures. I'm sorry to be publicly saying this but I've formed the view that you are a TIGHT FISTED STINGY MAN WHO IS EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY SUPPORTING INDIA'S CORRUPT SOCIALIST PARTIES.
Why is it that you fear to build or support a political opposition that wants to fix India's governance? Why not be a citizen instead of being a carping, stingy old man? Why is it that NOT A SINGLE PAISA has been spent by you in supporting the right cause?
Prior to you I met many Indian origin CEOs of IT companies in the Silicon Valley. Same result. TOTAL APATHY. These are not Indians. They are BLOOD SUCKERS OF INDIA – who will exploit India for all they can but give back nothing in return. They will leave behind a WORSE INDIA than when they were born. That will be their legacy – of DO NOTHINGS.
In THIRTEEN years (fourteen in February 2012) since I've been fighting to establish a classical liberal political party in India not ONE so-called "honest" CEO has bothered to even inquire in some detail about how we can transform India.
And not ONE paisa spent. Not one. All hot air and mindless talk.
If you want your reputation to go down well in India's history, please do something. Or BE QUIET, now. I'm getting a bit sick of all this.
[Thanks to Vishal for the link to this talk]
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I totally agree with you on that. All are afraid of loosing opportunities to buy cheap land from these political parties. Finally they all want is money. This same company has invited India's most corrupt leader Sonia Gandhi to inaugurate global education center in Mysore.
They talk about "Values" in Infosys, but now everyone knows all their ethics.
Sir, never expect anything from these bunch of crony capitalist.
Being an ex-Infoscion..I find this very surprising… and really disheartened , if this really happened. I have heard both Mr. Murthy and Nilekani have been actively participating in Urban Development Projects in and around Karnataka but the way you have put it up… cant agree more
Thank you for making these observations in the public space and spurring debate. I think the word “apathetic” pretty much describes all of us, though to varying degrees. (That’s not offered as an excuse for extreme apathy!).
Why, I would expect most businessmen to be apathetic except where it hurts them or where their self interest is at stake. In itself not a bad thing, there is some bit of “virtue of selfishness” as long as you dont try to damage others in the process of making profit (the game is not zero sum). The apathy in some ways conserves energy, I think. Why would they stir the hornet’s nest when they are all comfortable and are still making good profits ? It is only when they are affected in some way, that they throw their weight around in public. Otherwise all the lobbying would happen more subtly; you and I, the public, wouldn’t need to be involved. If you imagine these businessmen to be some sort of saints or leaders who should set an example, wouldn’t it be your failing, rather than theirs ? Just a thought.
Dear JaT
I agree there is considerable virtue in self-interested behaviour.
The problem I have is with HYPOCRISY.
When the Ambanis (and thousands others like them, e.g. Ratan Tata) are focused PURELY on acquisition of wealth, I can condemn their long standing habits of bribery and corruption, but I can understand why they do so.
I have ZERO expectations from such crapitalists and know unambiguously that they are (a) hold Indian citizenship only so long as they can suck India dry, (b) will NEVER help the nation grow except through the spill-offs of their monopoly businesses (e.g. a few jobs here or there).
It is with people like NM I have (had) true hopes from, because people like him (a) appear (on the surface) to be honest, e.g they talk about values and high fundas, and (b) often say the right thing in terms of the reforms India needs.
When SUCH allegedly good people disappoint, then they deserve to be pinged and harshly questioned.
If NM wants to avoid such criticism of his hypocrisy, he should learn to SHUT HIS MOUTH. He can’t pretend to be good and yet behave in a vacuuous, Ambani-like manner.
He must learn to walk the talk. Else not talk! Simple.
s
Dear Sanjeev,
There is a presumption here that you have the answers… the truth may be that he does not believe you have them; and at the same time he too may be of the belief that he himself does not have the answers… You must know that there was an idealism in him… he wanted to be a communist when he was young and I am sure he must have given deep thought to it… but ultimately he has turned out to be a rather successful capitalist… well not really… he has been able to help establish and lead a great institution that has met success in the capitalist world… we must not take away from the fact that it has done a lot of good to the nation and its employees in its own way…
The question arises as to whether we would even be thinking of him if he had not found success in industry and made all that money? Merely by the quality of his thoughts, if he did not have all that money would he have even tickled you…? apparently not… as you merely see him as 'lecturing' … apparently what he says does not seem to make sense to you… so there is a mismatch…
He is nothing without his money and background… if he gives all that to you for your work and becomes a pauper you wont even care to look at him… or then may be you would…? but for him to do that you must be able to convince him that your vision has all the answers… does it?
Dear Nixon,
“There is a presumption here that you have the answers”.
Not so. I’m only asking N.Murthy to WALK THE TALK. That’s a defect of NM’s character and personal integrity, not a debate on policy.
And yes, I write about him because at one time I thought he was a man of integrity (and many people in India still think so). To me a man who says something but does another is missing integrity.
S
To me Lord Rama and Lord Krishna are 'perfect', many will start arguing that they are mythical characters and that both of them have committed immense wrongs… well it does not make a differenct to me but i believe that they are the perfection personified, as our ancient wise want from us…
Does Mr. Murthy match up to them… far cry i would say… we all come with our defects… if he had perfection in him then he would have played some steller role and "Dharma" would have been established in today's society… not to be… but i guess the urge within you to search and find those answers are making you express yourself the way you are doing…
lets hope Mr Murthy answers his inner call with greater discipline and turns out not to the hypocriate he seems to be… but then i guess it will take a huge leap of faith for him to be able to convert from a leader of industry to a 'tall' leader in the political arena… he could galvanize a whole lot of men wishing for salaries to work for him and for his vision… can he inspire a generation of Indians, who do not work for salaries, to stand up and deliver for the nation? …. that is a tall order…
But if you want my personal view on this i think we must rise beyond expectations from individuals…
Adi Shankara asks in his work prashnaottara ratnamalika… "Who is the greatest banefactor?" and he answers it himself "Dharma"… again not christian dharma and muslim dharma…. etc… it is a higher principle that has to do with "sense of duty" "Rule of law" "The highest ideal" "Collective conscousnesses"… if we are to take his lessons we must figure out how Indians, especially those in power, can be made to rise to rise the bar and live to a higher value system… it is not a work for individuals… though God works through individuals… as he does through you…