Shri.
Narayana Murthy, Co-founder and Chairman of Infosys, visited Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana's (BJS) Wagholi Educational Rehabilitation Center
on 3rd September, 2016, to meet our children from the families of farmers' who
have committed suicide in Maharashtra and tribal communities. The children are
pursuing their education there. The center has been bringing students for
educational rehabilitation, since 1993, the year when earthquake hit Latur
(Maharashtra) leaving it devastated.
The children
were overjoyed when they were informed about the dignitary's visit and were
eagerly waiting for him. Their happiness
knew no bounds.
Shri. Murthy
observed the awards won by the students and gave some excellent suggestions. He
then had a meeting with the School Committee and the Head of Mental Health
Department to discuss about the routine activities of the students, their
physical and mental health reports, and what measures are taken to curtail the
problems of students.
Shri. Murthy
then interacted with the children. He started the conversation by congratulating
Shri Muttha (founder of BJS), his entire team and the teachers for their
efforts in making the wonderful citizens of this country. He addressed the
children that, " Shri Muttha's and his team's dream will be fulfilled when
you people graduate out of this school, go to do further studies, and may
become eminent persons. All the hard work that your teachers, Mutthaji and his
team are putting in, is to help you people reach your full potential."
The children
liberally asked him many interesting questions to which he responded very
frankly. The interaction they had is worth reading.
Student: How many awards have you received
till date?
Shri. Narayana Murthy: I don't keep a track of the awards I have received but meeting
you people is a very big award for me.
Student: As a kid you were very mischievous, would
you like to share any experience of your school days?
Shri. Narayana Murthy: Children have to be mischievous, if they are not, who else
can be, how can elders be mischievous? In my school we had a very strict
geography teacher. He was an old man, about 45, and he knew that I would make
lot of mischief in the class as he was teaching so he made me sit in the first
row and I would somehow move to last row.
Student: What efforts you have taken to
receive the awards?
Shri. Narayana Murthy: It is the kindness, affection, and generosity of the award
givers and all that I have tried to do which I think Mutthaji has been trying
very hard, is to instill values in children like you. Therefore because my
father also did that, I tried to be honest, I tried to do my duty, and I have
tried not to evade any taxes to the government. I have tried to help people
less fortunate than I am. And god has been very kind, I created lots of jobs. Then
when I went abroad, I made sure that the name of the India was respected. So,
these are the few things.
Student: As a child, what did you want to
become when you grow up?
Shri. Narayana Murthy: Almost every child, those days wanted to be a Railway engine
driver. You know that railway engine is very big powerful, it would be spewing dark
clouds, and making lot of noise, so to be in control of that was a big thing.
Then when I started doing pretty well in my SSLC. I got 4th rank for the state
SSLC. Then I got the 3rd rank in my pre-university. Then my parents, my
friends, my teachers said you should do something different, so I wanted to be
an engineer. Then when I came last year of my studies, I wanted to be an
electrical engineer. Then somebody talked to me about computers. So I said I
wanted to be a Computer engineer. I wanted to do my PhD, but then I got a job
in Paris city, so my friend said you should go to Paris. So I went to Paris. So
I think it keeps changing, as you keep scaling one peak, you see another peak.
Student: Who's been your icon, for all this
success?
Shri. Narayana Murthy: It is Mahatma Gandhi because, he was one leader who led by
example, i.e. whatever he wanted others to do, he did it himself, showed how
useful it is and then he did. So therefore for all of us clearly Mahatma Gandhi
was our icon.
Student: You did well in your board exams;
still your father was not happy with you, why?
Shri. Narayana Murthy: I remember, in my SSLC when I got my 4th Rank, my mother was
happy, I don't think my father was very happy, we were all very scared of him,
we would hardly talk to him, then the only question he asked me was what happened
to the other three ranks? Then when I got 3rd rank in pre-university I thought
I had done better, so that time he said, what happened to the other two ranks?
Student: What do you want to become now
further?
Shri. Narayana Murthy: It's a good question. At this stage, I want to see an India
where there is no poverty, where the child in the remotest village in India has
decent access to education, health care, nutrition and shelter, where a poorest
man or women has a right to question the actions of the most powerful person.
Student: When will all the facilities reach
the remotest of our country?
Shri. Narayana Murthy: When digital India becomes a reality, it is possible for the
remotest village in India to have access to education, good governance, news
from all over the world. That is our hope.
Student: What do you want to become when you
grow up and how did you find their school and there center over here?
Shri. Narayana Murthy: First of all I am already grown up, I am like your
grandfather, and I have a granddaughter like you, so therefore now is the time
for my granddaughter and the children like you to think of becoming something.
This school
is very good, you are very lucky that Mutthaji and all the people here, they
have made so much of sacrifice; they have worked hard, to take care of all your
needs. Let me tell you that there are very few such facilities in India. This
place is one of the best that I have seen. That all credit to these people.
