Infosys chief lectures Joshi on secularism

When HRD and Science and Technology Minister Murli Manohar Joshi agreed to preside over the first Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture to be delive...

When HRD and Science and Technology Minister Murli Manohar Joshi agreed to preside over the first Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture to be delivered by Insfosys chief mentor N.R. Narayana Murthy, who he had handpicked to head the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, only a few months ago, he had no idea what was coming his way.

For over an hour, much to Joshi’s embarrassment, Murthy gave a hard-hitting lecture on secularism, where he asked politicians to be above communal politics — ‘‘unite and not divide the people into majority and minority categories’’.

The lecture — Murthy chose his own topic, ‘In praise of secularism: The musings of a lay person’ — was organised by Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI). ‘‘The Minister had no idea what Murthy was going to say.

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TERI allowed him to choose his topic and it was not printed on the card. Even the audience was surprised,’’ an information official admitted, quickly adding, ‘‘Murthy did not mention Gujarat or any other state for that matter.’’

Murthy said he strongly felt if communal sentiments were allowed to grow, the virus would spread to the social fabric and in turn hamper the country’s economic development.

Murthy also praised the Vajpayee Government for choosing missile-scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam as President. Joshi described Murthy ‘‘as an icon of Indian entrepreneurship’’, saying he ‘‘is one person who believes we can do it.’’ He added it was only fitting that he was chosen to deliver the first Darbari Seth memorial lecture.

This, of course, was before Murthy got started.