Infosys founder Narayana Murthy expressed regret for not having provided significant stock rewards to many early adopters of Infosys who had played a pivotal role in the company’s establishment and growth. He remarked that their contributions were as substantial as his own, if not more, and wished he had given more thought to their compensation.
Reflecting on the journey of Infosys since its inception in July 1981, Murthy acknowledged the collective decision-making process within the company and noted that while they had created an ‘enlightened democracy’, there were natural limitations to its effectiveness. He shared his belief that the company could have performed even better had these limitations been addressed.
Murthy, during a momentous occasion that also marked his wife Sudha Murty’s accomplishments and the contributions of liberalization architects such as Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, credited them for aiding the technology sector’s growth. He also expressed personal regrets, such as not allowing Sudha to be a part of Infosys, despite her initial seed capital investment and support throughout the company’s challenging early days. Sudha diverted her focus towards the Infosys Foundation and social work, guided by the insights of their daughter, Akshata. Sudha recently received the prestigious Padma Bhushan award for her efforts in social work.
The journey of Infosys under Murthy’s leadership involved overcoming bureaucratic hurdles, and he humorously mentioned that technology changed every three months while the bureaucratic system took three years to adapt. However, he commended the expedient loan support from the Karnataka State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation and the Karnataka State Finance Corporation during the company’s nascent stage.
At another event, Murthy addressed the remarkable career trajectory of his son-in-law, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, but chose to maintain a stance of diplomatic respect, refraining from commenting on the affairs of other countries.
Murthy’s revelations and admissions came about amidst various speaking engagements, including a book launch, celebrating the milestones and shared moments of his life married to Sudha Murty, while concurrently elucidating on the company’s past and its influence on their personal lives.