The Cocoon That Narayan Murthy Built

N R Narayana Murthy should have continued to play an active role in Infosys. He seems to have a lot of time to pontificate these days, and much of what he says is lame.

“The number of role-models that our youngsters can look up to is decreasing. How many people in our public life can you be proud of for honesty, courage, commitment and hard work? And that number is dwindling, Our youngsters are getting the wrong signals. They think may be this is the way to succeed. I don’t blame them.”

Mr.Murthy has often prided in being a self-made man. He did not need to follow anyone. Even those of his and earlier generations did not choose people specifically for abstract qualities, but for their achievements. Would anyone consider him a role model only on the basis of how he started or due to what he became? The rags-to-riches story has to end with riches.

Should we use the qualities Murthy lists we would still need to ask a few questions:

• What is the person honest about? The answer often is: Source of wealth and not honest about her/his lifestyle.

• How is the person courageous? Climbing mountains, fighting on the battle front, or taking risks to make more money? Answer: In the first two, it is only those who are recognised for their achievements who become role models, if at all. Not just about anybody who climbs mountains or the ordinary soldier who lays down his life or overpowers the enemy will do.

• How does one define commitment? To a specific task, to a work ethic, to the team, to an ideology? Answer: Almost all commitment is driven towards a tangible goal, and that excludes exploration of anything outside it.

• What kind of hard work will be admired? Answer is obvious: The farmer, the unskilled labourer who toils for hours, the salespersons standing on their feet, the clerks, the peons, the secretaries, the nurses, the teachers will not be role models. The hard work has to ‘pay’ off

From what one reads, then Sachin Tendulkar, Shahrukh Khan, Sania Mirza, Kumaramangalam Birla, Nitish Kumar are seen as the fairly young role models. Television anchors, writers, actors, business tycoons are admired. In most cases hard work is evident and, to an extent, courage. How do we gauge commitment and honesty? Are these even a consideration? These people are in visible professions. The youth will look up to a police officer only if he has been feted, and more so for a prominent ‘kill’.

The blanket use of corruption is getting to be tired, especially since Mr. Murthy had just a couple of days before this event stated:

"Tarring the entire bureaucracy or tarring the entire political leadership as being corrupt is not the right way.”

These are convenient positions to take and rather opportunistic, given that he has been asked to play a part in the government. His preaching, therefore, does not have a foot to stand on.

The ‘good’ role models aren’t exactly stain-proof. How many have never indulged in monetary transactions that are hidden in their income tax statements? They even want their gifts to be tax-free, when the rest of the citizens have to dole out import duty. They want special privileges and land for their dream arts and sports complexes. It is about their dream which is promoted as the dream of millions. It certainly benefits a few. And the circle of elitism continues.

Role models work as spoon-feeding. It is a glorified fan club where the strivers are forced to follow the leader. Individualism is killed at the altar of such human blueprints.

(c) Farzana Versey