On campus, it’s business as usual… only on the surface

Had this not been April 30, Saturday would have seemed like just another sweaty afternoon at the scenic Infosys campus.

As you enter the campus, the usual hustle and bustle surrounds you, techies busy showing their families around their prided campus, gardeners tending to the well-manicured lawns, the ever helpful guards giving the media - struggling with their cycles - directions, and the occasional Infoscians strolling about.

Murthy’s personal touch
Nothing seems unusual - until you stop a housekeeping employee trotting past.  He greets us with a pleasant smile, customary for most Infosys recruits. But this time the smile masks the hidden insecurities he now harbours, with Narayana Murthy stepping down from his post as chief mentor and chairman.  

“Murthy took personal interest in our department. He even helped my children get admission in a school in my village for which I will remain eternally grateful. All of us are feeling low now that he’s leaving. Will the new administration look after (our needs) the way he did?” wonders Madhoji, who has been at Infosys for the past seven years.

For the newer ring of employees, however, it’s just another day, continuing with their routine. Security guard Nazerullah, a new recruit, says “Today is just as yesterday was, my ‘fauji’ (army) type role continues, tomorrow won’t be any different.”

Meanwhile, at the other end of the sprawling campus, a software techie in his mid-twenties, enjoying family time, asked us to capture the moment in a picture for him. We asked him for his take on the imminent change in leadership, to which the response was simple, “Life will go on. My role won’t be impacted by it.” This might go down well with Murthy, as a true mentor would long for the success of his organisation to continue, even after he steps down. The mid-level management and staff close to Murthy declined to comment, saying it was against company policy.   

The little things matter
Infosys, despite being a one lakh plus organisation, still manages to weave a strong bond with all levels of staff. Right from the sweeper to the CEO, every one of them feels a connection with their fellow Infoscians and the organisation that gives them their bread and butter. So, understandably, being loyal to the country’s second largest IT firm comes naturally to them.

A chat with Manjula, the canteen help, reinforces the deep bond employees have with the company. She is proud of the maroon-coloured sari she wears, “Infosys has given me so much. My uniform, provident fund, a generous bonus every year, all thanks to Murthy. We even get leave payments, and free medical check-ups.

I have no overheads as even my children’s schoolbooks are provided annually,” she says. “We all wish he would have stayed on longer and continued to be our guardian angel.”

Laundry man Prakash, appreciates the STD booth on the campus, which helps him to be in constant touch with his family back home. He says, “No other company would have been so thoughtful towards the needs of employees at my level. I feel privileged to have seen Narayana Murthy during my short stint here.”