Better understanding of theory helps to build better world than a mixed gimmick….

When the world entered into twenty-first century, there were talks about the emergence of new economies-China and India. This talk become further triggered now. In fact there is a slogan of “The future belongs to India, not China”. Recently the Infosys Chief Mentor N R Narayana Murthy compiled some of his lectures/speeches in a book form as A Better India A Better World. 

The book has 10 Part. The first five chapters are nothing but quite interesting, energizing and encouraging for reader- address to students, values, important national issues, education and leadership challenges. The last five chapters are more focused on corporate governances-corporate and public governance, corporate social responsibility and philanthropy, entrepreneurship, globalization and Infosys. 

In many ways the growth and process of Mr Murthy’s thinking is mixed gems which is quite visible when he says that “no reforms can bring about inclusive growth unless our population growth is contained” (p.xxi). Remember after all these are his lectures/speeches only! 

For Murthy the government is the solution to do everything for the poor except the employment which will be provided through private sector. His understanding of theory is not at all clear and singles wrong path, but for many it may not be. He also advocates some theory to others and believes something else. Like our first Prime Minister and his daughter did everything right for this country and we should salute for that!  

More interestingly he writes “Dr Y Venugopal Reddy….best free market champions” (p. 87). Further, he believes that “the global software industry would not have been possible without Nehru’s vision”. What are those visions according to him the IITs and IIMs nothing more, but all these institutions trains the students who are already skilled in many ways than the other students. 

In other words he preaches some sort of statism for people and he wanted to enjoy the fruits of freed market economics. 

Unless his co-chairman Mr Nandan Murthy has no clarity of thought and quotes which are dangerous to people. Albeit he recognises that it is “anathema to most Indian politicians who were brought up with the belief that poverty was virtue, businessmen were crooks, making profit was a sin, and government was the solution to every problem”. 

In sum, Mr Murthy forgives the whole Nehru’s misguided, socialist control policy which is still a dominant among our policy makers.  

If the reader has open mind like me and out of box thinking will be disappointed. Though I had no specific expectation before reading this book, some years back I only read two  of (In Praise of Secularism and what can we learn from the west?) his of lectures which are also covered in this book.