Search the Internet          Tips  Sites: Finance, Investment

Communalism biggest hurdle to economic growth: Narayana Murthy

Ramesh Menon in New Delhi

N R Narayana Murthy, Infosys Technologies Chairman and Chief Mentor, said on Wednesday that communalism is the biggest hurdle to the economic development of India and it could lead India into a blind alley.

He was speaking at the first Darbari Seth Memorial lecture in New Delhi organised by the Tata Energy Research Institute. Seth was the founder chairman of TERI and a technocrat who made corporate history during a glorious corporate career spanning 52 years.

"India needs secularism as it is one of the poorest nations. Most of our erstwhile Third World brethren have left us far behind. The need of the day is to show 'laser focus' on economic development. For such progress, we need an environment of peace, unity, hope and enthusiasm. Any action that brings divisions across communities will not help this cause," he warned.

The Infosys chairman said he chose to speak on secularism as a democracy worked best in an environment of pluralism, respect for the opinion of others, lack of fear to practice one's own belief and a mindset that highlights the commonness of our beliefs rather than their differences.

Such a democracy will be vibrant and it would enthuse, energize and encourage citizens to integrate rather than cause fissures, he said.

He pointed out that as the minority communities form about 15 per cent to 20 per cent of our population and it would be foolhardy not to enthuse this population to participate in India's well-being and economic development.

"We need a climate of unity, enthusiasm and hope. This is the time to unite and fight communalism," he said.

Narayana Murthy pointed out that a civilized society is one where each generation makes personal sacrifices to ensure a better and happier world for the next generation.

"So we cannot encourage any source of hatred if we want a better society for our children."

He said that it was the duty of leaders to be the agents of progress and realise people's aspirations.

"Leaders have to bring about a change in the thinking of masses. They should be uniters, not dividers. This is the job of leaders of all communities, not just the majority. Leaders become change agents, by walking the talk. We must 'become the change' we want to see in the world," he said.

Murthy said that modern, successful leadership was about the contemporary agenda. It was not about fighting for relics, icons and ideas of the past. "A nation is judged by its contemporary status and not by its past. A confident leader looks at what he can do in the future to better the lives of people rather than digging up the past," he said.

Murli Manohar Joshi, Union Minister for Human Resource Development, presided over the lecture. He paid rich tributes to Darbari Seth, saying he was one of the most admired corporate leaders of India.

He said Seth wanted a strong and prosperous India without the evils of consumerism and belonged to that class of Indian industrialists that kept nationalism and self-respect above business interests.

"As he guided the Tatas' business interests, he encouraged the pursuit of knowledge and nurtured TERI into a world class institute," said Joshi.

ALSO READ:
More Money Headlines