Infosys' Narayana Murthy reveals two of his biggest regrets

During a book launch Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy recently shared one thing he feels bad about.
"I feel bad that I invited my mother to visit Infosys only when she was dying. I was so busy building Infosys," he said after launching a biography on the life and times of Madan Mohanka, an entrepreneur and Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) alumni.

Last year, at Infosys' 40th-year celebrations, co-founder NR Narayana Murthy had admitted that he was wrong in his long-standing belief that children of company founders should not become involved in the company. Murthy had believed Infosys is a professionally run company and should keep promoters' children away from any management role.


"I was completely wrong in that. I was depriving this organisation of legitimate talent. I take back whatever I said. Every individual should have the same opportunity if he or she is considered the best person for that role," he said.

At the book launch event, Murthy went on to speak about his experience in building Infosys, a global leader in consulting and IT services, in the 1990s. He described how he used to take only 1/10th of his salary and give 20 per cent extra to his junior colleagues, leading by example and instilling a sense of responsibility among his team.

Murthy stressed the importance of humility, saying, "There were people smarter than me in my college and later in my industry, but humility is something that helped me soar in my career. Always have your feet on the ground."

The book, titled: "I Did What I Had To Do", was authored by Anjana Dutt, an advertising professional, and details Mohanka's rise to success and the belief systems that paved the way for his meteoric journey. The event took place in Ahmedabad.

In his speech, Murthy praised Mohanka's story, saying that it provides valuable insights and inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs as well as business leaders.

Mohanka, born in 1943, is an octogenarian who has witnessed post-liberalisation India and has contributed significantly to the country's growth as a financial capital of the world.

The book, based on extensive interviews with Mohanka and his family, friends, classmates, and colleagues, provides insights into his early life, the impact of his learnings at IIM-A, his entrepreneurial genius, his decision-making abilities in times of crisis, and the value systems that helped him overcome the challenges he faced along the way. (With Agency Inputs)