Our city is more tolerant and safe compared to others: Devi Shetty, chairman, Narayana Health

In an interview with ET's Divya Shekhar, Devi Shetty, founder and chairman of Narayana Health speaks about Bengaluru city. Edited excerpts:

1 What makes Bengaluru tick?



Bengaluru is a cosmopolitan city which does not require people to speak one particular language in order to be accepted. The city has the capacity to attract talented people and encourage them to make it their home. The younger generation and people settled down here from all over the world have turned Benglauru into a knowledge city. Its lovely weather apart, Bengaluru is also more tolerant and safe compared to any other part of the country.

2 What is your favourite Bengaluru moment?



For me, it was 11 years ago. I could not have imagined any government accepting a micro-insurance that helps the poor get a heart surgery done at Rs 5. But today, it is a part of the Karnataka government's health scheme. In the past two decades that I have lived here, the government has always lent a listening ear to your problems and suggestions, irrespective of which party is in power.

3 If you were the dictator of Bengaluru, what is the first thing you will do?



I will ensure that Bengaluru becomes a garbage-free city. Garbage and open sewage is the reason behind most infectious diseases like H1N1, malaria and tuberculosis. If we analyse closely, they are the root causes for most of the complexities in the city. I believe that if we can put a man on the moon, making Bengaluru a garbage-free city should not be much of a problem.

4 Who is your favourite Bengalurean? Why?



The Bengalurean I admire the most is Mr NR Narayana Murthy (co-founder, Infosys). He has put India on the global map and has inspired millions of Indians to dream big and become confident in designing software. I believe that the work done by Infosys over the years has been one of the driving force behind Bengaluru becoming the knowledge city.

5 If not Bengaluru, which city? Why?



It has to be Kolkata. I have lived there for more than seven years and I am in love with the place. It is a city with a soul, where people have evolved sensibilities. They look forward to life despite poverty and hardship. It is a city that celebrates the maximum number of festivals in the world. If Mother Teresa is what she is today, it is because of Kolkata.