Narayana
Murthy, the great Infosys founder, stepped down to follow the rule that the
retirement is at 60 in his organisation. A rule, which he himself as the
person in charge led to establish. This is called setting an example.
Infosys
was established in 1981 with $250 by six software engineers with most of the
money borrowed from the spouses of the founders.
20th August 06, his 60th birthday is also the
day he stepped down from the executive chairmanship of Infosys Technologies,
handing over the reigns to Nandan M Nilekani. He will now continue as
non-executive chairman and mentor. He could have easily stepped aside that
constraint of a rule without anyone in his company or his country
complaining.
His act of relinquishing the supreme position in Infosys,
which of the Executive Chairman of Infosys, is an example for others. This
humble demeanour and great perseverance in leading his company were also the
pillars of the company's phenomenal success. He was at the company’s
principal position for 25 long years, nurturing it with all his energy and
knowledge.
How many of our business owners can show the fairness to
follow rules in their own organisation? They try to live life the way they
like, leaving the rules and regulations for ordinary employees to follow.
In one of the get-together organized by the company at
their Mangalore campus, he stood in a queue to choose his food like every
other Infosys employee. He is surely doing the same every time he is under
the similar circumstances. He can easily use his privileged position to
break the rules, but he chooses not to. It takes a lot of traits to be a
great leader; whether in business or life.
He has shown a leadership, a very different kind of
leadership than we normally see around us.
It is known that there was a stage after many years into
Infosys's founding, when it was assumed to be not successful in creating
business. At this stage, the entire idea was questioned and one of their
partners left. This early partner of Infosys is now in the US. Murthy has
supposedly told the rest of the partners that "even if all of you want
to leave, you can". "Nevertheless, I remain convinced in the idea and will
continue on my journey". He was focused, confident, and his vision was never
blurred.
Mr. Murthy went onto
create one of corporate India’s greatest success stories of all time.
He is an example for all Indians to follow. All of us tend
to think that the rules are for others to follow, while it was created for
all and for the welfare of all. Unless you follow those rules set
by you, how others are expected to follow it?
It is not a joke to be on Infosys's highest spot. It is a
great privilege and one enjoys a lot of power and exposure to the media
while in Chairman’s seat. For Murthy, his company’s rules were more
important than the limelight and power.
He and the company he founded must be held in the highest
regard and looked up on with reverence by other would-be business owners. He
is known to start his day cleaning his toilet. 1.2 billion $ worth and yet
he is also known to live a modest life. What more is required to call him
one of the greatest Indian and the best Indian businessman ever?
Those who believe in what they believe and persevere, will
be ultimately successful. That’s what Murthy’s life teaches us. It is not
for weak individuals to follow rules; it is for those who set examples for
others.
Murthy was the fifth of eight children of a school
teacher. As a teacher, his father must have instilled in him the greatest
qualities of a human being such as humility which he meticulously followed
and nurtured throughout his personal and professional life.
His capital was also his fine education; engineering from
Mysore University and MTech from IIT Kanpur in 1969. He is an example of
such a rare businessman who had only the knowledge and conviction as
capital. There is another fact about him that deserves
commendation. The fact that he loved and believed in his country! He stayed on in India after post graduation from IIT.
We must also
appreciate that many others worked hard to create today’s Infosys. However
there would not have been an Infosys with out the leading light that is
Murthy. The traits he was founded on, as an individual, given him the
ability to show the leadership and guidance which led to the creation of
this world renowned organisation.
The following statement by him during an Interview
on leaving Infosys, shows how committed he was to his beloved company and
yet steadfast in doing the right thing. Surely, he was an ordinary
individual doing extraordinary things.
During the interview, he said, "It is like giving away
your daughter in marriage". "You are happy because she has grown up to be
what she is - a confident youngster, that she has joined somebody with whom
she finds joy". "At the same time, you remain anxious about her, you feel a
sense of loss".
