Infosys founder N.R. Narayana Murthy has said that maintaining idealism, confidence, hope, energy and enthusiasm of every Indian is mandatory if we have to make good on the dreams of the founding fathers of the country.
Mr. Murthy was addressing the gathering of fresh graduates at the 8th convocation of Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation (Deemed to be University) at Vaddeswaram on Wednesday.
He said the country had been progressing in economy, human resources and other aspects like never before. “There is also another India that worries us. About 350 million people cannot read or write, about 200 million do not have access to safe drinking water and about 750 million Indians do not have access to sanitation. We rank high in corruption and our record in primary and higher education is pathetic,” Mr. Murthy said. “We have created an environment where bright, idealistic and confident youngsters who are ready to take on the world in their twenties become despondent and self-seeking unhappy individuals by the time they reach their 40s,” he added
“However, there is hope today for us to solve these problems. For the first time in 300 years, we have an economic environment that engenders confidence that we can overcome our poverty and create a better future for every India. But such a transformation will not be easy,” he added.
Referring to the movie Chak De India , Mr. Murthy said it had provided the recipe for bringing glory to India and added: “It is very simple to enunciate, identify as Indian and rise above the affiliations of States, religion and caste and work aggressively towards freedom of faith and expression, freedom from war and fear for a better India.”
Mr. Murthy was conferred the Doctor of Science award by the university chancellor S.S. Mantha, and Padma Shri awardee and Rythu Nestam founder Yadlapalli Venkateswara Rao was also conferred the Doctor of Letters award by the university.
Mr. Venkateswara Rao called upon the young graduates and students to not to forget farmers who were the backbone of the country.
