Stand up and say it’s not the country our founding fathers envisaged,Infosys’ co-founder tells youth
Mumbai, Jul 14: Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy said Saturday that looking at "what is happening in different parts of the country today", the youth need to state bluntly that this was not the country for which our forefathers got freedom.
Talking about his spat with Vishal Sikka, Infosys' first non-promoter chief executive who quit in 2017, he said he had to speak up when he saw core values of the IT giant being thrown into the "dustbin".
Speaking at a panel discussion at St Xavier's College here, Murthy referred to Sikka's confrontation with him and other promoters, without naming him, when asked about the concerns he had expressed about the way Infosys was being led after his retirement.
"There was not a single word in public that I have spoken about the business strategy or the actions of the executive," Murthy said.
"However, when the question of value systems we had built for over 33 years making huge sacrifices (came up), when you see those value systems being thrown to dustbin, then automatically the leaders in our society and country have to stand up and express their anguish and disappointment," he said.
"Otherwise we would have allowed those mistakes to continue. (In) 2014 CEO (Sikka) was given 55 per cent hike on (salary of) 7 million USD....COO (then Chief Operating Officer Pravin Rao) was given 30 per cent hike. No middle-level fellow was given any salary increase," he said.
"Security guards (were) told to work an extra day without increase in salary or overtime. I think that is a serious violation of values," he added.
"Therefore, if somebody like me who built the company from scratch with the help of six junior colleagues, if I don't stand up for the erosion of the value systems, then I would have failed in our duty singularly," Murthy added.
If the core values of Infosys such as "leadership by example, fairness, transparency, accountability" were "thrown to the dust, then you have to stand up and voice your anguish and disappointment", he stated.
Sikka quit in 2017 after almost a year of public dispute with Murthy and other promoter shareholders.
Murthy further made the point that Indians generally tend not to "displease" anybody even when it is needed.
"If you look at what is happening in different parts of the country today, it is time that we, especially the youth, stood up and say this is not the kind of the country our forefathers had got the freedom for.
"But how many of us are doing it? Nobody is doing it, sadly. That's the reason why this country is in this state that it is. Nobody wants to displease anybody by saying what is wrong," he added.
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Five central organizations of Bhatkal hold joint condolence meet for SM Syed Khalil
Bhatkal: In a heartfelt tribute to SM Syed Khalil, popularly known as C.A. Khalil, five prominent organizations of Bhatkal came together for a joint condolence meeting at Jamia Masjid on Friday night. Khalil, a renowned NRI businessman and respected social and religious leader, passed away recently, leaving behind a legacy of dedicated service to the community.
The event was organized under the joint auspices of Markazi Khalifa Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen, Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen Bhatkal, Jamia Islamia, Anjuman Hami-e-Muslimeen, and Majlis-e-Islah-wa-Tanzeem. Several dignitaries spoke about Khalil’s life, his contributions to society, and his immense impact on education and public service.
Maulana Khaja Mohiuddin Akrami Nadvi, Chief Qazi of Markazi Khalifa Jamaat, described Khalil as a man of deep faith and integrity. “He carried out every task in his life with religious consciousness and immense belief in God,” he said.
Maulana Abdul Rab Khateeb Nadvi, Chief Qazi of Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen, highlighted Khalil’s selflessness, saying, “His simplicity and the great services he rendered without any expectation of reward are an example for all of us.”
Maulana Abdul Aleem Khateeb Nadvi, Khateeb and Imam of Jamia Masjid, emphasized Khalil’s dedication to public service. “He devoted his property, wealth, and personality entirely for the welfare of society. His life was a shining example of commitment to community service,” he remarked.
Speaking on behalf of Anjuman Hami-e-Muslimeen Education Society, Vice President Muhammad Sadiq Pillor lauded Khalil’s contributions to education. “His efforts, especially in promoting girls’ education, are invaluable. He extended his services beyond Uttara Kannada to various parts of the country,” he said.
Inayatullah Shabandri, President of Majlis-e-Islah-wa-Tanzeem, reflected on Khalil’s efforts to secure political representation for the Muslim community. “He worked tirelessly to build strong relationships with national and state leaders, paving the way for the progress of Bhatkal,” he said.
The meeting also saw participation from Khalifa Jamaat Deputy Qazi Maulana Aiman Nadvi, Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen Deputy Qazi Abdul Ahad Farkade Nadvi, Zubair Kola, and SM Arshad of Mohtisham Complexes Pvt. Ltd., among others. Each expressed their grief and admiration for Khalil’s contributions.
At the conclusion of the event, the five central organizations jointly passed a condolence resolution, emphasizing that Khalil’s passing was an irreparable loss not only to Bhatkal but also to the Muslim community across India.
“The void left by CA Khalil, who dedicated his entire life to the welfare of society and the nation, will be hard to fill,” the resolution noted.
The program was conducted by Abdul Raqeeb M.J., General Secretary of Majlis-e-Islah-wa-Tanzeem.
