Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy recently highlighted the issue of poverty and inequality in India by drawing upon his personal experience. Murthy recounted his 21-hour journey by freight train in 1974, a stark reminder of his humble beginnings and the challenges faced by many in India.
“I have had some success in demonstrating the power of entrepreneurship in solving the problem of poverty through my experiment of creating Infosys,” said Murthy at the Kalichand Memorial Lecture in Mumbai.
“When I look at the big canvas of India, there is not a single day when I do not feel confused, helpless, agitated and motivated that our leaders will find a solution to this problem,” added Murthy.
He highlighted that he spent lonely, hungry, cold, angry, and introspective 21 hours in the goods compartment on a freight train from Nis in now Serbia to Istanbul returning back to India after his job in Paris, saying that the question of stark poverty and inequity in India has been troubling him since then.
Murthy shares advice that his parents gave him
Murthy also shared that his parents told him that “the only way” he can “escape from the orbit of poverty was by good values – honesty, hard work, discipline, and good work ethic.”
“Putting the interest of the community ahead of one’s personal interest in the short and medium term will lead to personal betterment. I know every nation that became prosperous did so through hard work,” he added.
Murthy’s comments come on the heels of recent discussions surrounding India’s work culture, advocating for longer working hours to enhance productivity and global competitiveness. He suggested that Indian youth should emulate the strong work ethic observed in countries like Japan and Germany.
His comment received both criticism and support from certain quarters.
