Mother Teresa award for Narayana Murthy
Indians need to be proud of their democratic set up, secular fabric and youth power, said Infosys Founder N R Narayana Murthy on receiving Mother Teresa award, instituted by the Indian Development Foundation, on Monday.
Addressing a gathering at Nimhans Convention Centre he said Indian democracy was in its infancy and there was a need to progress until it attained maturity.
He also stressed on protecting the nation’s secular nature.
The youth in India are as confident and independent as their contemporaries in other parts of the world, he noted.
Noting that the problem lay with people in the age groups of 40 to 50, Narayana Murthy said they were apathetic and fatalistic in their approach towards life. Umpteen sacrifices and indefatigable spirit of visionaries inspires people and brings a flicker of smile on their faces. Mother Teresa and A R K Pillai, who founded India Development Foundation, personify these attributes, he said.
The role of corporate houses and NGOs in the making of the new India could not be denied, added Narayana Murthy.
Speaking on the occasion, A R K Pillai said he gave up his lucrative medical practice and started the India Development Foundation to serve leprosy patients.
Recognising IDF’s work in bringing down the number of leprosy patients in the country from 40 lakh to one lakh in 2005, the Union government has urged them to curtail incidences of TB and HIV.
IIM-B Director Prof Pankaj Chandra, Nimhans Director-Vice Chancellor Dr P Satish Chandra and social activist Dr H Sudarshan too participated in the award ceremony.
‘Anna movement is momentous’
Extending his support to Anna Hazare’s crusade against corruption, which has permeated all walks of our lives N Narayana Murthy said the movement was momentous.
“The Lokpal Bill will be passed in the Parliament, once the Union government and Team Anna arrive at an amicable solution through discussions and debates,” Narayana Murthy said.
