Posted on: 10-04-07 11:02:50
Indian Express article
http://www.expressindia.com/
Bangalore, April 10: Chief Mentor of Infosys Technologies Limited N R Narayana Murthy said he ‘deeply apologises’ if his media statement on the issue of playing the national anthem during President A P J Abdul Kalam's recent visit to the company's Mysore campus, has hurt anybody's sentiments.
"If the media statement has hurt anybody's sentiments, I deeply apologise," Murthy said in a 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," he said in the statement. Murthy had said at a press meet--in response to a question--after Kalam's April 8 visit that singing the national anthem would have ‘embarrassed’ company employees of foreign origin, remarks which evoked a strong reaction from some quarters.
"We have always kept the interest of India foremost in our minds and our work speaks for itself," he said in Tuesday's statement.
"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," Murthy said.
__________________________________________________________
My 2c
Why is NRN so paranoid abt foreign staff in his company? Looks like he wants to play it to the foreigners. What is wrong with singing national anthem in our own country? Why play the music than the words?
I had high respect for him, but now I am not so sure.
DIO
Quote:
Murthy had said at a press meet--in response to a question--after Kalam's April 8 visit that singing the national anthem would have ‘embarrassed’ company employees of foreign origin, remarks which evoked a strong reaction from some quarters.
Most Indians suffer from severe inferiority complex and Mr Murthy is one of them.
Quote:
Originally posted by desi in ottawa
I had high respect for him, but now I am not so sure.
DIO
Really? This incident changed your opinion about the great guy? That's pretty fickle I'd say. They only play instrumental versions of the national anthems in Olympics as well. So what's the big deal about this? That was a perfectly fine thing to do by him.
It probably was wrong for him to say that it "would have embarrassed company employees of foreign origin". That's just stupid. But hey, he has graciously apologized for it hasn't he? What the heck more do you want him to do?
Quote:
Originally posted by jahnavi
Quote:
Murthy had said at a press meet--in response to a question--after Kalam's April 8 visit that singing the national anthem would have ‘embarrassed’ company employees of foreign origin, remarks which evoked a strong reaction from some quarters.
Most Indians suffer from severe inferiority complex and Mr Murthy is one of them.
What the...where's this coming from? Mr.Murthy has inferiority complex? LMAO...could you please, please corroborate this outrageous statement? I am all ears and eyes...
Quote:
Originally posted by mynameisraj
Quote:
Originally posted by desi in ottawa
I had high respect for him, but now I am not so sure.
DIO
Really? This incident changed your opinion about the great guy? That's pretty fickle I'd say. They only play instrumental versions of the national anthems in Olympics as well. So what's the big deal about this? That was a perfectly fine thing to do by him.
It probably was wrong for him to say that it "would have embarrassed company employees of foreign origin". That's just stupid. But hey, he has graciously apologized for it hasn't he? What the heck more do you want him to do?
Its not olympics. Its the company premises. So there is no comparison.
Would u do the same if u were in his shoes? I would not. Anyone can apologise for that matter. But the damage was done.
Quote:
Originally posted by desi in ottawa
Its not olympics. Its the company premises. So there is no comparison.
Would u do the same if u were in his shoes? I would not. Anyone can apologise for that matter. But the damage was done.
Okay. Let me spell it out for you since implying something doesn't get through. It is a multicultural environment with employees coming from various nationalities. Capische?
Damage was done? Geez...people...can you not rise above these things? Look at you for pete's sake. How hypocritical. You are here in Canada. He is at least almost single-handedly driving the economy there!
"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," he said in the statement. Murthy had said at a press meet--in response to a question--after Kalam's April 8 visit that singing the national anthem would have ‘embarrassed’ company employees of foreign origin, remarks which evoked a strong reaction from some quarters
This statement from Mr murthy is surprising ....
what is there to be ashamed of in singing our national anthem in india ....
This is an opportunity to make the foreigners understand a little about india ....
Actually I would like to see all the Indian Corporations celebrating major occassions in their offices world over ....
( by the way Israelis never work on sabbath ( Saturday ) wherever they are [ even in Germany I have seen them not working ] .... they would go back to the hotel or their homes on Friday afternoon .... )
