Lasting Rose

If L K Advani of the Indian political opposition BJP has done any favour to the ruling UPA alliance, it was his consistent attack of Dr Manmohan Singh, depicting him as a weak Prime Minister. Advani's strategy however backfired in the last election, because a lot of Indian's didn't buy his insinuation.

Many have seen Mr Advani as a divisive figure who exploited Hindu-Muslim tensions

Now , L K Advani has proved, by his recent political flip flops, how he himself could be the weakest Prime Minister India can have, if he is ever elected, reminding everyone of his inherent lack of character and moral strength.

After all no one has forgotten how, Advani, as Indian Home Minister had sent back terrorists in Indian prison to Pakistan, succumbing to a terrorist highjack of an Indian flight.

Despite all that, in a way, L K Advani might have transformed himself to be the saviour of secular India by his obstructive politics, fully aware and conscious of the ultimate repercussions of his political moves, first by ostensibly skipping the Goa conclave of his party and then by resigning from key positions.

Omar Abdullah: "If his opinion didn't matter to you yesterday why is his resignation a crisis for you today?"

The recent political drama enacted by Advani and his party men, who first ignored him by huddling up in Goa without him and falling at his feet next day, has exposed their moral and intellectual bankruptcy.

By ostensibly declaring the elevation of UP Chief Minister to a campaign position which has never existed in Indian Politics with great hoopla, the BJP has chosen Narendra Modi  as the next Prime Minister of India, if elected to power.

Despite pretences to be otherwise, even novices in politics can see through the ploy of BJP. However they wrongly assume Modi is India a la fashion "Indira is India" clamour of the era of Prime minister Indira Gandhi.


By failing to recognise the looming danger of fascism cloaked in the religious movement of Hindutwa, the BJP leaders have shown themselves to be a lot without real moral strength.

Many have seen Mr Advani as a divisive figure who exploited Hindu-Muslim tensions, remembering him for the campaign he led to have a Hindu temple built on the site of a destroyed mosque in the ancient northern city of Ayodhya.

In many ways, Mr Advani and Mr Modi, leader and follower-turned-adversaries, mirror each other: both are hard line and polarising leaders of their own generations. Only now, one appears to be ranged against the other, and at stake is the future of the BJP.

They have all, including L K Advani, succumbed to the power of Hindutwa, loaded out in votes by its owner and disposer RSS, a political set up disguised as a religious body, to which each of them has politically mortgaged their integrity and independence.

Though ostensibly the clamour is against Narendra Modi, who can't recognise the damage he does to himself and the Indian political balance by his demeanour and pronouncements, the real villain and danger is the agenda of RSS.

In fact, by creating several hurdles to prevent the investiture of Narendra Modi as secular India's prime minister by RSS, albeit to leave another chance for himself to usurp the position, Advani has, at least for now saved India from the turmoil of a few fascist years and bloodshed that is bound to ensue.

"When I walked out of Infosys on August 20, 2011, I did not in my wildest dreams imagine that I will be back here in an executive capacity". These words captured a million hearts across the globe when Mr. Nagavara Ramarao Narayana Murthy, decided to take over the leadeship of IT giant Infosys yet again, the pioneer in IT revolution in India. Why?
Not just for Infoscions, not just for IT professionals, for thousands of Indians, Narayan Murthy was a huge inspiration as a leader, as a torch-bearer, and above all as a visionary. When he decided to call it a day at Infosys in 2011, many people described it as a loss for the mammoth industry. His decision to step aside was to bring new genes and experience from different sectors of work to impart extra vigor and zeal to the company which was at the threshold of losing its shine. He cautiously took the decision as a leader and decided that the inevitable, long delayed metamorphosis should be brought in.
Though he was still in the ship as Chairman Emeritus, his other responsibility which he took for the society and other establishments restrained his availability towards his "middle child". During this period of two years when he detached himself from the firm, which he started with the help of his like minded friends by taking a loan of Rs.10,000 from his wife was going through the toughest phase. Stocks fell unconditionally. All the fiscal quarters were alarming. "It's a dream team. I'm leaving it in safe hands," was what N R Narayana Murthy said when he retired from Infosys in 2011. He was referring in particular to K V Kamath, his successor in the chairman's position, Kris Gopalakrishnan, the executive co-chairman , and S D Shibulal, CEO & MD. But, unfortunately, the dream team ran out of ideas to bring the company to a strong platform.
Hence, at this juncture, its really interesting to know how Mr. NRN Murthy can steer the ship. And more interestingly why Mr. Murthy?
Mr. Nagavara Ramarao Narayana Murthy, as the pioneer of the industry, has seen all the turbulent current at it's gestation period. It was his initiative which triggered many entrepreneurs and big business establishments to set up their companies in the software industry. His visionary steps in establishing and outsourcing, were thousand steps ahead when compared to India's foreign policies then. His ideas on Global village for IT companies and special zone for enhanced work environment created a new wave in all sectors of society including real estate, retail, transportation et al. He was the person who created a new breed in the society, corporate. He was the reason for raising the bar of living standard of urban india to a larger extent. More than the founder of Infosys, Mr. Murthy was the face of Modern India, who inspired millions of indians to change, the way they thought, the life they lived and the dreams they dreamt.
His entry into the society with the new industry, was at a very crucial phase. Unemployment was at its helm and only a job in the government sector was considered as a job in the society. A job in the private sector was never appreciated in Indian families. And moreover, an engineer was someone who would construct a bridge or a building or work in any rig in Gulf country or somebody who would work in an electricity office. An idea of learning computers and becoming an engineer was very far for decision makers in the family. But, no mountains could stop this glacier and it melted and took everyone with it's wave. It was Mr. Murthy with the willpower of his patrons, which made India shine in the global arena.
Hence, it's very important to be Mr. Murthy, Mr. Nagavara Ramarao Narayana Murthy. The man who steered the most lucrative industry in the job sector, the man who faced mountain hurdles in foreign and national policies, the man who created sophisticated middle class society and above all the pioneer who saw India twenty years ahead.
Today, when the ship has hit the rock, it's his visionary ideology and superior management resolutions that can come for rescue. Rohan Murthy, his son, who holds a doctorate in computer science from Harward, will assist him in his tenure of next five years. S Gopalakrishnan would be re-designated Executive Vice Chairman effective June 1, 2013 and would primarily focus on key client relationships and broader industry issues. S D Shibulal would continue to be the Managing Director and CEO.
And, for a man who could change the the way the society thought, its not a tough task to bring back the shine and luster and reinforce the faith of it's investors. Hence at 67, it's very very important to be Mr. Nagavara Ramarao Narayana Murthy.

NB: During his five year term, unlike other corporate team, Murthy and the above team would draw a token compensation of Rupee One per year.