Narayan Murthy caught in controversy over national anthem

The playing of the musical notes of the national anthem instead of its live rendition to greet President A P J Abdul Kalam during his visit to Infosys campus at Mysore near here on Sunday has drawn software icon N R Narayan Murthy into a controversy.

The controversy is not as much over playing of the instrumental version of the national anthem as it is over Narayan Murthy’s post-event press conference statement that Infosys cancelled the live singing of the anthem as the company did not wish to embarrass the foreigners on the campus.

“We had arranged for five people to sing the national anthem. But, then we cancelled it as we have foreigners on board here. They should not be embarrassed while we sing the anthem”, Mr Narayan Murthy told a reporters seeking an explanation for playing the instrumental version instead of live singing of the anthem.

But, the local media went to town with Narayan Murthy’s remarks and virtually questioned his patriotism.

Infosys was quick to issue a clarification to the raging debate on their chief mentor’s statement. “We played the instrumental version of the national anthem so that we could all sing along, and all of us did so. We wished to share the pride of being an Indian in the gracious presence of our President. We are informed that this is as per protocol. If the media statement has hurt anybody’s sentiments, I deeply apologize”, said Narayan Murthy in a statement released to the press yesterday.

Narayan Murthy also added that Infosys was a proud Indian company that had always kept the interest of India foremost in its mind. “We are a proud Indian company with strong universal ethos of transparency, accountability and honesty. It has always been our endeavour to represent India with the highest standards of respect and enable it to take its rightful place in the world economy.