
A Journey of Compassionate Capitalism
Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys, shared his vision for "Compassionate Capitalism" at the Kalichand Memorial Lecture in Mumbai. Reflecting on his life, he recounted a pivotal moment in 1974, a lonely and challenging journey on a freight train from Nis to Istanbul. This experience, he said, ignited a passion within him to address poverty and inequality.
Murthy believes entrepreneurship holds the key to tackling poverty. He cites his own success with Infosys as proof, demonstrating how businesses can create opportunities and empower individuals. However, he acknowledges the ongoing challenges and expresses concern about the lack of solutions from leaders.
Drawing inspiration from his own upbringing, Murthy emphasizes the importance of discipline, hard work, and prioritizing community needs over personal gain. He believes these values are crucial for driving societal change.
Recently, Murthy sparked controversy by suggesting longer working hours for Indian youth, drawing parallels to post-war Japan and Germany. He argues that with a low per-capita income, India needs to boost productivity to achieve middle-income status.
Born in 1946, Murthy's journey began with degrees in Electrical Engineering. He rejected lucrative job offers to work on India's first time-sharing computing system. In 1981, he co-founded Infosys, a company that revolutionized India's tech industry and contributed significantly to its economic growth.
Murthy's story is a testament to the power of entrepreneurship and the importance of social responsibility. His vision for "Compassionate Capitalism" offers a compelling approach to tackling poverty and inequality, emphasizing the need for both economic growth and social progress.