Infosys Co-founder Narayana Murthy: Some competent Indians need to leave India to enhance our image abroad
India has been talking about an education paradigm shift for the past few years and the new National Education Policy 2020 has brought that issue to the forefront of every discussion and debate. One of those major issues is the environment of research in India. Many are of the opinion that plenty of our researchers go abroad in search of better opportunities and this has started a new age brain drain. But Infosys Co-founder N R Narayana Murthy does not agree. Speaking at the Infosys Awards 2020, he said that we should let the best of us go abroad and become the ambassadors of India.
"A small percentage of competent Indians have to go out of the country to become the model citizens in that society and enhance the image of India," said Murthy. He added that he has been travelling around the world for the past 49 years and that experience has taught him that every Indian abroad wants to help their own country. "I do not know a single Indian staying abroad who does not want to help India," said Murthy. Talking about whether there has been a new age brain drain as more researchers are going abroad, he added, "On the contrary, I consider them (Indians working abroad) as highly competent ambassadors of India who are ready to help."
The Infosys Founder and President of the Infosys Science Foundation gave away the awards. Murthy also said that India is a young nation and he is optimistic that India's future is very bright. Talking about the allocation of the budget towards research in India, he said, "We have to recognise that we are a very young nation. We have had institutions like Nalanda in the past but in the past 200 years, we have taken significant initiative only in the last 70 years. As we start solving problems I am sure the policymakers will increase the research budget," he added. "NEP will help assist students to engage in critical thinking and proactive problem-solving. There have been changes in the curricula and the way classrooms will function. There will be a change in culture and that does not happen overnight," he said.
Like most other things this year, the prestigious Infosys Prize was also announced virtually. There was no glam, no pizazz, no fluff — much like the winners themselves, the announcement ceremony was precise, to the point and full of promise. Despite the deliberation by the jury being conducted during the COVID pandemic, Infosys Co-founder N R Narayana Murthy reaffirmed the Infosys Science Foundation's commitment to fostering research and encouraging more youngsters to strive for innovation in the country. The winners are to be given a gold medal, a citation and a prize of $100,000.
