`I am a conservative in economic matters and liberal in social matters’

Giving the lure of foreign shores a run for its money, Infosys created the breed of young software professionals who worked in between sessions at the basketball court and the gym. Murthy holds the opinion that the concept of `brain drain’ is not a problem — and can be dealt with easily by just providing them with an equally, if not a more viable option. Result: The clamour for recruitment — last year, 70,900 aspirants applied and only 1,300 were successful. Infosys is also one of three companies whose stocks were listed on the American stock market of NASDAQ, the other two being ICICI and Satyam Online.

Murthy and his boys at Infosys created a new lingowhich had the corporate world in a tizzy. Concepts like `de-risking’ (which basically meant not putting all eggs in one basket), `learnability’, `multi-cultural’ ( which refers to the Infosys policy of global personnel) and `transaction-oriented behavior’.

Murthy who was in Delhi to talk on `Corporate Governance’ embodied all the images that the `totally smitten’ media had created about him. The austerity — apparent in his simple trousers and shirt which seemed to give a fillip to power-dressing. The clear and lucid speech — which was very conscious of the message it sent out; the tact — which implicitly dealt with the curiosity of his peers and aspirants. And most of all, the reluctance to say anything which would create ripples in the industry or the IT sector.

SUNETRA CHOUDHURY got him to answer a few quick questions before he was whisked away by his hosts. Here’s it from the man himself:

Earlier, we came under the Department of Electronics and even then we did not come down to Delhi very often. Although, I must say that it is a very efficient department — becoming a catalyst in the Indian software industry. I think that the IT ministry will have a similar role.

No, no, not at all. The change can only bring about velocity in the decision-making process. We hope that there will be a clear policy regime, and more Indian companies will become multi-national companies, computers will be reaching out to the rural companies.

We have to create global brand equity, become a multi-cultural organisation. Improving our capital and productivity — these are basically some ofthe challenges that face us. Although, we have been alright till now, we do have a long way to go.

No, I think you have seen the draft report by Montek Singh Ahluwalia. Based on this, I think that India is Y2K ready. There should be no problems. (On further inquiries on this) I really think that you should ask Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

Nandan handles the all operational matters. He is responsible for the balance sheets, and P and L etc. I handle all expansions, futures and strategies etc. I also handle relations with the outside world, the international scene.

Oh yes, of course, I was a very strong Leftist. And I was incarcerated for 72 hours inBulgaria. (He hesitates for some time as if to get his thoughts together)…No, no, I was talking to a girl in the train and we were speaking in French. Some boy who overheard us thought that we were conspiring to overthrow the government — he got the police. They took me, I do not know what they did to the girl but they locked me up without food and water. When they got to know that it was somebody from a friendly country like India, they let me go.

I think it changed my views of a society where individuals are held without the due process of law. I am a conservative in economic matters and liberal in social matters.

(Gets all bashful) I think you should ask others that — it is very difficult for me to say. (After some persuasion) I think it is — Early to bed and early to rise, work like hell, that’s all.