Narayana Murthy graces first AU convocation

Updated on: Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Addressing the students of Ahmedabad University (AU), chairman and chief mentor of Infosys N R Narayana Murthy said that the development in the country is disproportionate. Murthy urged the graduating students to shoulder the responsibility of bringing an inclusive and equitable change in the country.

Murthy was the chief guest at the first convocation of Ahmedabad University, which was held at its campus on Monday. The event conferred degrees to the university's first batch of 110 MBA and 8 BBA students that graduated this year.

Talking to the students, Murthy said that it is their responsibility to bring inclusive and equitable change in the country because excellence in education is a rarity in the country and students like them who have had the privilege of getting such kind of education must take up the responsibility of bringing a change in this country. "You are the few blessed ones in such a paradoxical India," said Murthy.

Pointing out the disparity in the country's growth, Murthy said that while the country is considered to be a strategic global economic power and is an important voice in global matters, Indians are still far from achieving the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi, Vallabbhai Patel, Rajendra Prasad and Jawaharlal Nehru. He further said, "We are still very far away from creating an India where every Indian will be provided with the wherewithal to develop and rise to their fullest stature, and where poverty, ill-health and ignorance will have vanished."

"In a nation of 1.2 billion people, only 65% of the people are literate. Around 420 million people live in eight states alone. Around 350 million people do not have access to safe drinking water and another 250 million people do not have access to basic medical care and 700 million people do not have decent sanitation facilities."

The event also saw the presence of chancellor of AU Sanjay Lalbhai, chairman of board of management of AU Prafull Anubhai, provost of AU AH Kalro and registrar of the university BM Shah.

Times of India

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