I write this at my own risk. I know I invite the ire of Indian IT professionals by talking this way about their patron saint.
Kannadiga software pros, their parents, and other Infosys worshippers will call me an... Read The Article
Satish, I am a hard core kannadiga ex IT worker and no i am not going to scream for your head or burn your effigy. The people of karnataka are generally objective apart from a few occasionals like Vatal. But i do agree to your point of NRN as a poor choice of President. Lets think about this what is NRN and what has he done for the state or country. He has created jobs, he has brought in forex yes but what is the underlying reasons for both these things to happen. He saw an opportunity much before others did and exploited it well and made money for himself and others. That makes him a good businessman but not president material. The guys at infy can scream their heads off but one question to all of these guys how much value has Infy added to Karnataka and Bangalore. In my opinion not a lot, the contention is a lot of high paying jobs are created and this helps the local economy. Lets go back 10-20 years and see if we Bangaloreans liked our lives then or now. There is money flowing into the city but that is more than negated by the rise in real estate, costs and the hassels of too many people.
I for one would vote against Narayana Murthy as president as i see him as more of a taker than a giver. Land, tax breaks etc and what is his contribution to Karnataka or Bangalore city other than clamouring for more resources and threatening to shift campuses to Kolkotta or Hyderabad. Tommorow he'll say China. There is a lot of truth to what Gowda said even though the yuppie lot derided and ridiculed him. I'd rather have Azimji for president who is under no illusions of being a social savant.
( Posted: Thursday , April 12, 2007 at 00:45 )
David
I am am Indian, and I work in US, Am supposed to respect their national anthem, and this is really absurb what Narayan Murthy has said. I am ashamed to be an Indian listening to Mr.NRM's comments.
( Posted: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at 23:42 )
MARGASAHAYAM
Namaskara - Excellent article. I am sure the pride of the nation is upheald irrespective of individual, caste and success. One of the stature of Mr NRN should be held accountable for his actions-What made him say what he did ? Was it false pride of the success he has achieved or is it a belif that he needs to be in the lime light for the reasons at whatever the cost ? Only he can answer - It also raises the question - What type of an individual is Mr NRN ? A coporate braggard or a loose cannon ? has coporate success like the Mallya / Tata or Birla also become the staple of Mr NRN - Has he forgotten what got him to where he is - his values / his grand mothers methods and tenets / his fathers teachings / his school to which he had to walk thru ....what really made him loose pride in India - Is it the crores earned doing non-innovative slavish software for the companies in foreign shores - another way of living and that too at the cost of the bright individuals of Mother India working at INFOSYS ? NRN for President - Well recognize the fact that he is no Dr Sarevepalli Radhakrishnan !
( Posted: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at 23:20 )
Vikas Chhabra
It seems as if you belong to the set of people who just does not like true professionalism in every aspect of life nad this great country of ours. The people admiring Mr. Murhty according to you have made money just because of liberalisation but my dear friend has it not been for liberalisation you would not have been writing all this and reaching out to so many people. And even though the President is a figure Head but still someone who is a through professional and one who can run an office as a professional set up I beleive he or she can do a much better job than someone who is a retired politiocian. The current president is probably the best that we have got so far and if he is succeede by anyone like Mr. Murthy i beleive that this would be one the best things that could happen to our country.
( Posted: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at 23:16 )
Manmohan
Narayan Murthy is not above the nation such high headed people should be put behinde the bars as per the law of the land & the message should go loud & clear that we take a lot of pride in our national anthem.
( Posted: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at 23:13 )
stm
Little respect that I had for Narayanan Murthy has vanished with one foolish act of his. That shows the caliber of his thinking,if true, certainly he does not deserve to be our next President. But then why blame him for such blatant attitude? After his bread and butter both are provided by these foreginers (read US of A)so how can he betray them. I think he is better off where he is right now, without degrading the Presidents post.
( Posted: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at 23:06 )
Bharat
I wish somebody initiates a debate on the real need to have a President at all for India. The Presidents simply make inane speeches and inaugurate insignificant functions. They often get snubbed by the governement. Moreover, every President,no matter what his achievements are, has to depend on the support of unscrupulous politicians like Mayawati, Mulayam, etc.
Finally, let us stop maligning Narayana Murthy. He is one of the few symbols of excellence we have in India.
( Posted: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at 22:42 )
Yug
The only reason I wouldn't like to see NRN as the rubber stamp president of India is that it would be a criminal waste of his talents. He is not perfect (who is?) but he has done more for India than all the proud losers waxing patriotism on this list. He creates jobs; jobs that give the youth of India food, shelter, and clothing. They pay taxes. Now that is patriotism; not bowing before some stupid flag. Americans have the right to burn their flag. Clinton did it as a student and went on to become president.
Grow up. Pride doesn't take a country forward, work (karma) does. I wonder what makes you so proud.Do you not see the pourkarmikas, some of them old enough to be your grandmother, in Bangalore, clearing garbage and night soil with their bare hands? Do you not know of the millions of malnourished children in the country, more than that of sub Saharan Africa. Save the lip about our supposedly glorious past. Look in the present.
( Posted: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at 22:29 )
Thomas
The author is right to say that NRN will make a very poor president and given his comment 'embarrass foreigners by singing national anthem' it will be a disgrace to the country if we make him the president. But the author's comment that we should be barring corporate guys from holding public life is mis guided. Just because some one is successful in corporate world doesn't mean that he should be or should not be able to hold a public office. In case of NRN his views on cultural and national pride seems to be a misfit for a public official. But that doesn't mean than somebody else with success in corporate world who has a more balanced view on national, cultural and political matters should be barred from holding a public office. We should also not that the attitude of some (who commented) that shouldn't give attention to the cultural and national pride aspects and simply give credit to the corporate success is also dead wrong. Look at other nations who are proud of their culture and nation. We Indians have lot of things to be proud of including our national anthem.
One other comment to those who pointed out that the US national anthem being sung and broadcasted. In the US, this exercise of singing the national anthem before the games has more to do with creating a false sense if patriotism than real patriotism. It's done because patriotism sells well in US. So the media and the NBA/NFL ( which are all simply businesses) want to cash out on the patriotism of naive American Citizens. -Thomas
( Posted: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at 22:26 )
Shivkumar Samant
What a way to discredit a great personality! We are ready to accept corrupt politicians - who sleep in meetings arranged for discussing important issues. But we are not tolerant of an honest opinion expressed by an outstanding achiever!!! What a shame on us Indians, we do not deserve a great personality like NRN to be our President.
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