Deccan Herald wrote,
... In other words, the (national) anthem, which should command the utmost respect from all true-blue Indians, did not get its due, from whoever was responsible ... Which made many wonder: Among the 5000 employees, most of them Indians, wasn't there a decent group of singers who could sing the anthem of the country without discomfiting its first citizen - President A P J Abdul Kalam? ...
Infosys Chief Mentor Mr. N. R. Narayana Murthy told media later, "Indeed, we had arranged for five people to sing the anthem. But then we cancelled it as we have foreigners onboard here. They should not be embarrassed while we sing the anthem."
From Deccan Herald report,
Was it too much to pay due attention to the revered symbols of the nation just so that a small percentage of foreign trainees don't get fidgety?"
We are not going to analyse the dimension of patriotism here. One can endlessly debate who is more patriotic - the one who sings the anthem or the one who does something to improve the conditions of the people or the one who creates wealth and jobs for oneself and for others. We are not presently interested in such debates. But what is more striking here is an attitude behind citing the embarassment to foreigners in not allowing the employees to sing the anthem. The attitude that is an outcome of globalization. The attitude that perceives the development of nation as raw material only to a particular industry.
Mr. Murthy is used to air his opinions on anything and everything as the media are too willing to publish them. He writes about education, industry, development, language, roads, infra-structure, schools, colleges, etc. He has recently written an article on the debacle of Indian cricket team too. The quality of ideas he articulates through his articles is mostly anything but visionary. One cannot complain there. The most important thing is the urge to communicate for whatever reasons.
I just hope Mr. Murthy will write an article on this anthem issue. We can understand if he does not have time. I would then request our friends in media to talk to him and publish his views as "as told to someone".
3 comments:
Narayan Murthi has always been like that. The other time he was telling that wanted to be India's ambassador to US as he understood the culture there very well. He is one apologetic, honorless, efficient servant with full of complexes. This is total shame! If becomes president though, he will suck up to Italian Sonia nicely.
Were those foreigners, Pakis?
Wonder why singing one's national anthem embarrasses others. Dont people do (singing anthems) in some World cups and in sports meets like olympics and asian games?
It should be a matter of showing respect (by foreigners) to the respect that locals are showing to 'their' anthems/cultures/etc.
(P)Resident Murthy saarge gothilla :-(
Any other excuse would have allowed THE Mentor to escape....
Such a pity...
"Great" people...."great" thinking....
He might soon think twice about owning his dark-skinned kith and kin, to avoid embarrassment in front of his white-skinned (money-bags) clients..
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