Narayana Murthy vs Deve Gowda
Don’t you just love controversies? I have realized that the world cannot live without controversies and the media cannot live without making it spicier. Well, I will be honest in saying that I do love these spicy stories but, at the same time, these things do annoy me too once in a while.
The recent allegations by the former Indian primer minister Deve Gowda on Infosys Chief Narayana Murthy is pretty amusing. First, Mr Gowda claims that Mr Murthy has not made any contribution in the last 5 years, as a chairman, to the Bangalore International airport Limited project. Result – a miffed Murthy’s resignation from the BIAL chairmanship. Deve Gowda didn’t stop here – he then claims that all the land acquired by the IT companies in Bangalore needs to be checked and that these companies need to shift their base to Hassan and Gulbarga from Bangalore.
I don’t really know much of a history behind this story – so I will stop short of saying who is right or who is wrong. But then – just based on the common sense – I have a few very basic questions. All these IT companies that Deve Gowda is talking about are not just any companies – they are the ones which are listed in the stock market and have a lot of credibility in the market. The allegations that they have been in the habit of land grabbing sounds laughable to me. On the other hand – I am not too sure about Deve Gowda’s credentials. When he became the prime minister of India (and the term lasted for close to a year), it’s a wide speculation that it didn’t happen because of his credentials but because of the fact that everybody wanted to keep both BJP and Congress out of the top seat then.
When Infosys came up with the statistics that they provided employment to so many people in the country and have been good to the state in so many other ways – Deve Gowda was prompt to say that the same has been done by the other companies like Wipro. He also pointed out that Premji never tries to interfere in the state politics and believes that Murthy should also do the same. I take exception to this remark. Why? Why should Murthy do things that Premji does or why shouldn’t he do things that Premji doesn’t?
I am a strong believer of the fact that good politicians and good entrepreneurs are the ones that are needed in India and, for that matter, any country – particularly the developing ones. And it’s just fine if one of them decides to switch roles at some point in their life. I am sure that a lot of successful entreprenurs will make good politicians – at least better than the present ones.
Very well written .I too hope that these politicians would stop talking about things they know nothing about .Also why comparisons ?Every one has his own priorities .
the quality of politicians in india is something which is better not commented upon. 1 out of every 4 has a criminal record. If murthy was made the PM for one yr, he wud do 100 times better than what deve gowda did..
I do not agree with you.
Please see indianequities.blogspot.com
Deve Gowda is one illiterate moron who somehow became our PM. It sucks that we have such idiots still running around in our country.
You seem to be pretty gullible for a smart engineer. So you mean to stay if you are listed on stock market makes you credible. Did you hear of ENRON ? and other n+1 companies. Do you know big IT companies claming to be very eco friendly and light on resouces have 200 acers of land to make lavish campuses on subsidized rate from goverment? You know Mr. Murthy who donated $1 million + to cornell to sit on the board of directors how much he gave to Airport ? NIL !!!!!!!!!. It really makes me sad that the elite mind of India like you can’t see beyond what newspapers publish and are still worhipping false gods like Mr Murthy. To other falsehoods spread by new gods of IT please refer to this website.
http://www.kamalsinha.com/iit/people/narayana-murthy/charity.html
He is also an iitian like you but has gone int details.
Thanks
Manu
I am a proud kannadiga who is equally proud of both Deve Gowda & Narayana Murthy. How Deve Gowda became prime minister or How Narayana Murthy built Infosys is not the issue, both of them earned it by their hard work. The issue is Deve Gowda as an elected leader of a party which has about 50 elected representatives in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and supporting the coalition government in Karnataka has all the rights to ask questions about a important project like Bangalore International Airport. Narayana Murthy as the chairman of Bangalore International Airport is obligated to the people to answer Deve Gowda’s queries or resign (which he has done). I am proud of both Kannadigas.
>I am a strong believer of the fact that good politicians and good entrepreneurs are the ones that are needed in India and, for that matter, any country – particularly the developing ones. And it’s just fine if one of them decides to switch roles at some point in their life. I am sure that a lot of successful entreprenurs will make good politicians – at least better than the present ones.
Well said Ashish..trust me this will be one of the motivations of NRN to come into Politics. I have lived in B’lore and work for a top Indian MNC there, If today you were to pitch NRN and Deva Gowda in the election against each other, NRN would win hands down..trust me on this. Infosys has done a lot for B’lore. What was B’lore before Infosys and Wipro, its the surge of these companies which made it the destination for multinationals all over the world.
I have seen first hand how much the volunteers at Infosys Foundation do for lesser priviledged. I have even been one among them.And these volunteers are none other than the employees of Infy. If you are an Infoscian in B’lore you command a lot of respect from all civic and law enforcement personnel.
With all respect to Raj and Manu, you guys have the right to your opinion..but you guys are merely speculating on what you have read in the press or from other people’s blogs too (quite like Ashish). Has someone done enough for B’lore , maybe that enough cannot be quantified because B’lore is a mega city (unlike the cities where the Tatas or Modis or Birlas) have operations and their head quaters. But what ever Infosys has done for b’lore is a lot more than what any other company has done for B’lore(Mallaya,Premji you name it). Maybe NRN gave off money to a lot of other institutions besides those in India or B’lore..so what..he has an international face to show to the world. He accepted the position to head BIAL too right. How many people did that..and what was his motivation to do so. Film actors in our country get elected too and they do nothing for their constituency. Seasoned politicians get elected again and again and they do nothing for their constituency.NRN , Infosys and Infosys Foundation in that respect has done a real lot not only for B’lore, not only for India but also the world. You have to be in the thick of things to experience it ..not speculate from your experience 10 yrs back or from what you put as cold hard logistical facts. I’m sorry if I am sounding offended…it hurts to see a bunch of bloggers just criticize and expect they’ll change the world.
I have followed Infosys since it started in a house in Jayanagar and am proud of their success today. At the same time I have followed Deve Gowda’s public service since 1970′s. Both of them have achieved great success in their respective fields. The issue here is, Is Deve Gowda justified in asking questions about Bangalore International Airport, Narayana Murthy & Infosys. He is because as a Member of Parliament & leader of a party with 50 MLA’s in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly he is answerable to the people of Karnataka. Narayana Murthy should give straight answers and not hide behind Infosys track record for answers.
Great discussion here! The negative comments are as appreciated as the positive ones
Seriously.
Raj / Manu, I checked out both the links – some real interesting facts there.
My point here was a little different -
1) It is Deve Gowda’s duty to work for the welfare of the people.
2. It is NOT Infosys’s duty to do the same. This may sound rude but that is how a capitalistic economy is. Whatever Infosys does for the state and country should always be considered a bonus but demanding them to do the same as from the government doesn’t sound that right to me.
So, yeah as I read Rajaram’s comments, Deve Gowda was right in asking questions about the airport — only that I am not sure about the way he asked those. And Murthy should definitely not hide behind Infosys track record for answers – in fact, the 2 shouldn’t have been mixed together by anyone. But asking questions on what Infosys has done or not should not be none of their business.
Quite an interesting topic…
Well, if Infy is doing some development work in Banglore then its not a charity. Its their responsibility. They have thousands of employees in Bangalore. Many other companies do public welfare. And if Infosys has done something then its not a charity. Its also not correct to say that State Govt is responsible for all development work and companies like Infy is responsible for just performing well in stock market. You shouldnt forget the fact that who provides thousands of engineers like you to Infy…And forget Deve Gowda, if anyone asks question about Mr. Murthy’s contribution then he is supposed to answer straight. He is answerable to everyone. This airport is not a private property and everyone has right to know whats going on.
Again Mr. Setia you talk like a guy with no facts to cite but a constant slogan “nrn has done a lot to b’lore”. It still doesn’t provide for lack of figures how much as a patriot he has given back to india. To quote JFK “don’t ask what your country has done for you…etc etc..”. I totally agree with Ashish on the fact that its not NRN’s duty to do anything for india. But again he takes lot of pride in the fact that he has done a lot for india without anyone knowing what that “A LOT” means. Yeah he has “pimped” lot of talent ( remember it was nurtured by IIT’s REC’s etc on tax payers money) to do mostly crappy work for American customers. After so many years Infosys still lacks any killer app to name for all the talent it got it from INDIAN govt. Also as I mentioned it got land for pennies to make campus with tennis courts and gyms. It got tax breaks from govt. It got superstar treatment from media. Still it expects so much more from country without even giving back 10% of the wealth ??? What kind of role model are these? Again to give NRN credit for creating indian software sweat shops is like giving credit to cock for sun rise. If he was such a visionary how come oil seed company ( WIPRO ) started late and beat him on his game? Also there is no NRN for KPO industry in india ? Who gets credit for that ? Cheap engineering labor in india and western demand had to meet one day. Again I would be looking for some hard numbers from other side what NRN has given back to country when there was no return back expected for Infosys. I would really love to be proved wrong. Otherwise I don’t see much hope for India when illiterates are worshipping idiots like Devgowda and so called intelectuals are worshipping pompus egotist self stlyed mahatmas of modern india…
-manu
“Here is some things I found very annoying
are merely speculating on what you have read in the press or from other people’s blogs too (quite like Ashish). ”
It proves you didn’t see the site I had put. It quotes hard figures unlike your imaginations.
“Maybe NRN gave off money to a lot of other institutions besides those in India or B’lore..so what..he has an international face to show to the world.”
I thought charity used to begin at home ????? How much did he give IIT Kanpur where he studied do you know ?
Also why do NRN doesn’t contest the election in b’lore he is surely win it ? You know why cause then his real aim of money will be sidelined and there won’t be anyone to blame.He can atleast contest the mayors seat ?
See what ethical companies can do without any DRAMA of NRN and co.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9775289/site/newsweek/
To end the post i want to quote from bhartahari which seems to fit in this situation very well
“By the virtue of wealth, a man acquires even those merits, which he was lacking earlier. Those who have wealth are regarded as noble, savants and virtuous in the world and everyone likes to see them and hear them.”
We have to pay close attention to what Deve Gowda wants to know? He has requested the chief minister to enquire why Infosys wants 845 acres of land very close to Bangalore when they have not used the land alloted to them fully ( I am going by what the experts say is the employee to land ratio). According to me that is a legitimate question any responsible person can or should ask. They just mention the amount of land they have in Bangalore, Mysore & Mangalore which nobody is questioning. They are silent on this 845 acres land and are camaflouging the question by doling out all kinds of irrelevant statistics about Infosys performance as a company. Just by attacking Deve Gowda or boasting about Infosys company performance will not enhance Narayana Murthy’s public image. It might just end up tarnishing his public image. My take is ” For a company where precision is a given the answers to Deve Gowda’s questions are sadly lacking in precision”.
Narayana Murthy is a great person. There is record for the same.
But , Mr Murthy’s reactions in the controversy do not uphold him as a great leader.
1. His resignation no body asked/ expected – except Gowda.
2. His resignation was a quick – thought less reaction. No wise men do like that. Wisemen use the same resignation as a weapon to make Gowda / Gowdas to repent for such remarks.
3. Mr Murthy had not shown the humility, and nobleness in his act of ksubmittign resignation. His comments like I am pained, Former prime minister has not shown minimu courtesy, Leaders like Dharam has not explained are the most ineffective thinking he is in to.
4. Hope, Mr Gowda may repeat such things. But Mr Murthy should not repeat the same in future. Let us hope that he will come out some innovation in future if faces Gowda in future.
Dear Manu,
Went through your site. It seems that you are too keen on counting wealth of Murthy Family and their donations to match with.Well, i respect both of them a lot and also many other good people in Indian Industry. On philanthropy side leave Murthys, Tatas, Birlas and a few apart, i would like to know other people involved in this activity. We all see and know how much help the society needs, why not to create a database on that and then try to get donations for that work? If you are really interested why not to do this?
It has been very interesting subject of the clash between Mr.Narayana Murthy and Mr. Deve Gowda.
As already informed in this subject above, I agree that as a politician, Mr. Gowda should ask about accountability of things happenning over in his jurisdiction, Bangalore and other parts of Karnataka. Mr. Gowda, standing for poor and rural people, should take advantage of his position and demand better and technological help to these regions to produce better grain production, better living standards for farmers, advanced weather reporting to every corner of the state and country, better pricing for farmers output and so on….rather asking what Mr. Murthy has done for Bangalore and informing as a land grabbing company. In regards to Infosys and Mr. Murthy, India and more than that the world can talk more of it. It’s proven and their statistics show what they are…!!!
Narayana Murthy has political ambitions. If he wants to become something of worht in public life, he should learn how to answer legitimate questions Gowda posed. Deve Gowda is one of very few politicians (however corrupt he is) to ask tough questions. Other corrupt politcians like Krishna or Dharma are not asking those. So, I give credit to DG. Premji, Mujumdar, and other techies are keeping low profile because they all know their place in public life.
If they raise questions in public, they should be willing to answer questions in public. It is a fair game.