Patriotism is more than just singing the national anthem: Infosys chairman NR Narayana Murthy

Emphasising the need to be good and responsible citizens, Infosys chairman NR Narayana Murthy on Sunday addressed the students of BMS Institute of Technology and urged them to be patriotic towards their country.

Narrating an anecdote, Murthy said the present generation is lucky to be born at time when the country is being looked up by rest of the world. “When I left IIT Kanpur after my graduate studies and went abroad in early seventies, India was seen by most foreigners as a pitiable land of dogma, empty vanity, filth, poverty, illiteracy, low achievement and diseases. You people are lucky to have been born in an era where what India says is heard with attention. You have the rare opportunity to strengthen the new found respectability,” Murthy said.

According to Murthy, patriotism is more than just singing the national anthem or draping oneself in the national flag. “They are important and necessary but not sufficient.  To me patriotism is about working ethically and wholeheartedly in our chosen sphere to enhance public good for your country.”

Reiterating that despite the advances made by the country, poverty, infant mortality and illiteracy are still high, Murthy said: “It is this India which needs attention. You all need to be part of the system to solve the problem. There is a need to make public governance strong. Every action you take should make India a better place to live in.”

Murthy also asked students to exercise their franchisee and vote for the best candidate. “Democracy requires electing meritorious candidates. Democracy will succeed only when you youngsters will create a strong democratic institution.”