Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has responded to churumuri.com‘s post on her comments on Kannada writer and intellectual, U.R. Anantha Murthy. Below is the full text of her clarification.
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“WE HAVE BECOME INTOLERANT OF ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING“
I am really shocked at the way my comments have been misrepresented. I have great admiration for writers, artists and other intellectuals. I admire U.R. Anantha Murthy for his literary contributions and achievements.
What I am questioning is why someone like him is launching this tirade against N.R. Narayana Murthy which has even led to legal proceedings. If this is not politicising a small issue that does not warrant such action, then what is it?
By the way I read and write Kannada! I am a proud Bangalorean and a Kannadiga by choice. I have supported many an upcoming Kannada artist from rural Karnataka. I have participated on many social issues that plague our State and city.
What saddens me is the way we have become intolerant of anything and everything.
We need to recognize people like Narayana Murthy for what he has done to provide economic freedom to thousands of lower and middle class families; not crucify him and call him unpatriotic and even have the disrespect to ask him to leave Karnataka. That is why I have strongly reacted to my views on the subject.
I hope I have clarified my stand. The comments of your readers pain me.
Regards
Kiran Mazumdar
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Related link: “Who’s Anantha Murthy? What’s his contribution?”
“I have participated on many social issues that plague our State and city.”
like?
When Ms. Mazumdar-Shaw says “we have become intolerant of anything and everything” she may be overstating the concern. She can surely see the surfeit of bloggers has, overall, made our marketplace of ideas more robust.
As a thumb rule, more information is always better than less — we particularly can’t have too much information about public figures such as Ms. Mazumdar-Shaw and Mr. Narayana Murthy. I think Churmuri and other civic media are forums for much-needed alternate views.
Ms. Mazumdar-Shaw, an entrepreneurial inspiration, has earned enormous respect and wealth by her leadership and public service in biotechnology. I’m sure she can take some criticism/rants as well.
It is unfortunate that the issue is being blown out of proportion. We Kannadigas always have the habit of over criticing a fellow kannadiga. We expect our fellow kannadigas to be 100% perfect whereas we are very tolerant with outsiders. For ex. though we have made a huge hue & cry over Narayan Murthy’s remarks, nobody had even bothered to condemn the utter disrespect shown by Lalu Yadav and his wife for the national anthem when Rabri was the chief minister (to refresh: they had refused to standup for the national anthem when played while all others were standing. Photos of these were published everywhere but no PIL from these “literates” like U R Anantamurthy!!!) Though I do not agree with what happened at Infosys, Mysore, we need not drag the issue so much also. Keeping quiet is wrong and at the same time over reacting is also very wrong.
“We have become intolerant of everything and anything”?
That looks wise and sagely if you look at it from Narayana Murthy’s point of view. He must be feeling the same about critics who pounced on him during the national anthem controversy.
On the other hand, she (and Narayana Murthy and others of their ilk) seem to be suffering from the same disease. Surely, they too cannot be so intolerant of criticism?
It takes two to tango, but the Biocon boss thinks one will do.
“What I am questioning is why someone like him is launching this tirade against N.R. Narayana Murthy which has even led to legal proceedings.”
someone like him andare? is URA not qualified enough to voice his opinion on NRN? is it because he hasn’t grabbed enough land from poor farmers, deprived the government of tax money and abused the H1B visa system?
I agree with Ullasa’s comments above. We tend to jump to our feet in criticising our own people. Why don’t we see the NRN’s great contributions in terms of employment generation, economic prosperity to thousands of people, making India an IT power in the world? Another thing I do not understand is why we tend to always forgive and forget the polticians for all their misdeeds? Is keeping India in backwardness even after 60 years of independence an not an unpatriotic thing? Is rampant corruption not an unpatriotic act? Remember ‘vande mataram’? when some people openly refused to sing the song, which is constitutionally recognised, where were these people now rushing to file cases against NRN?
“Why don’t we see the NRN’s great contributions in terms of employment generation, economic prosperity to thousands of people, making India an IT power in the world?”
By NRN’s own admission, it is preposterous to term India an IT “power”. We just provide an opportunity for labour arbitrage to western nations be it IT services or back office operations. Some companies such as Infosys, Wipro and TCS have built up the scale (hook or crook) to offer these services at prices that exploit this labour arbitrage to the maximum. Being a billion strong, we are mostly about quantity, very little quality. The “poer” is in cheap labour and abundance of bodies. NRN or no NRN, this opportunity would not have passed us.
I wonder if any of the churumuri readers wanted to cause pain to Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw. In fact I dont think most readers would have anything against her personally (expect for one or two people, but come on everyone has detractors). And everyone knows what she has achieved etc.
The issue is with the nature of comments made in support of NRN. There is a feeling among many of us from Karnataka that uncontrolled growth and migration is taking away our way of life (however unprogressive or uncool that may sound). And I dont speak of just Bangalore. It would be helpful if people who matter give some thought about what effect their comment would have on the local people before they pass statements to the press. The same can be said of UR Ananthamurthy too – but he was reacting to an event (the national anthem incident). Attack him is you find what he said offensive, sure, but dont make it sound as though it is a ‘them versus us’ kind of thing. Then people like us will have to wonder where we belong in this.
We would think – so what if URA is a nobody, does he not have a right to criticize things which matter to him. Someone may have created a lot of wealth etc. – but does that mean she/he is above all criticism? If I am poor, havent achieved much in terms of wealth, am a loser etc. – does that mean I cannot criticize what I think is wrong, especially when I feel that the issue on hand matters to me and is a part of my life?
That said it is clear from the letter that Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has read the article and the comments and is actually hurt by it. I wonder if anyone leaving the comments thought that this would happen. I for one hope that she understands where the readers feelings are coming from (any cheap personal attacks on her are not even worth considering). And all power to her in her work and her personal projects.
Wish all these guys (our industrialists, our writers etc.) could sit down and talk over a cup of coffee! And they can decide which politician is allowed inside…
congratulations Kiran for your st. talk. Now a days people react to things which they usually ignored, but now react as they have nothing else to comment on!
Yentha adhbutha pavaada! Biocon Mathreyalli vishesha guna idhey!
Bionic biocon lady yenu swalpa jasthi thogondu mathadtha iddharey antha kanisutthey!
yeah danny, we discussed labour and cost arbitrage threadbare before too…
– many seem to be ignorant on what infosys does (tend to over simplyfy as labor arbitrage)…this naturally leads to easy/loose talking…..
– There seem to be tendency to choose one (either NRN or URA etc.)….life should not be exclusive, rather should be inclusive (this is like, person who drinks Dhaaru can’t engage himself in prayer!!!). We need NRN, ARA, and many more from wide-ranging …
– URA has not been up-to-the-mark on many occasions and has been passing undue comments, latest being on SLB. Again, we need ARA and SLB and others….but, URA should stick to befitting stature
– I question URA’s honesty. He fell in love (attracted to her?) with a girl, he married her….but throughout, he has been claiming that he is leftist etc. and encashing his marriage as one of those supporting …..I am OK, in he claiming he is leftist, but providing his marriage as one of the evidence is questionable SO, big ? on his ability to stick to TRUTH
Nikhil, I would agree with you on wanting forums with alternative views. But, this blog has lately turned out to be a major spin-zone, much like Sean-Hannity or Neal Boortz talk show!
Here’s a post worth reading (from the past)….
ChatRGee Says:
April 12th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
I am from West Bengal. My only knowledge of Mysore went slightly beyond “Mysore Dosa” and as being a princely state. In this awareness I fairly represented an average person from the states to the North/East/West of Maharashtra. Awareness about Bangalore was much better. And this is how it was until the mid-90s. Today there doesn’t go a day without a direct or indirect mention of these places. Mysore isn’t anymore that nondescript town. I do not have a choice to be in ignorance. And in this, once again, I fairly represent the regions and people I did earlier. If at all there is one reason for this change, it is Mr.Narayana Murthy.
I can tell you people this with confidence, if we had one such person, quarter as good (may be even an eighth) as Mr.Murthy, today we would be a different state and would be rooting for him to be in the center. Any time we hear a non-Bengali speak of Ray, our chests swell with pride. We got Ganguly back in the team in spite of all his flaws. Rather, in spite of a gleam of goodness. That’s how hungry we are for good people. In spite of all our shortcomings we can recognise brilliance.
This is Karnataka’s chance to feel that swell.
Rarely do we see people of Mr.Murthy’s caliber in today’s India. The goodness he brings overwhelms all his little flaws. His biggest flaw is that he is principled to a fault. And his unimaginable success could have clouded the humility. We humans are basically flawed. When the little, nondescript, substance-less beings on this board can make so much noise and opine without a hint of conscience, why hold Mr.Murthy to godly standards?
Move on, guys….. We, the rest of India, need people like him.
Do not be “Kupa Mondoks”!
For once, look beyond the parochial lines of state, caste and sub-caste and recognise DECENCY and give it a chance.
Then you would be truly respecting our national anthem that Tagore wrote.
Chattergee’s mail makes sense. Kupa Mondoks are suddenly finding themselves in storm water drain!
Prithwi,
I agree! Sometimes it’s even like the Savage Nation!!! :)
Prithwi,
I am going to write a novel called, “The loneliness of the long distance Bengali”
All the best Dodda Boddha. How many copies you intend to publish: one or one and a half?
pritwi,
look beyond parochial lines of state, caste— very utopian.
remember how bengalis reacted when a bill intending to shift marine development centre from kolkata to chennai– bengali MP’s forgot decency then.
when selfish sourav was destroying indian cricket and was dropped, bengalis put bengali interest ahead of india.
WHEN KANNADIGAS ARE GIVING IMMIGRANTS TASTE OF THEIR OWN MEDICINE— WE BECOME INDECENT.
rakshana vedike now has advocates, doctors, film directors, intellectuals as active members. this shows its acceptance among kannadigas and pace of its growth.
When Ms. Mazumdar-Shaw says “We need to recognize people like Narayana Murthy for what he has done to provide economic freedom to thousands of lower and middle class families”, i would like to know what Mr. murthy has gained from these thousands of lower and middle class families. Please know that Mr. Murthy and family is worth Thousands of crores and he has not done anything great. He has used Globalization as an opportunity to become rich and wealthy. It is these thousands of lower middle class intellectuals helped him become so rich. More over he could not give a diplomatic answer when somebody asked him why national anthem was not sung. I am sure a school kid would have given a better answer to such a question. I am doubtful if he was instrumental in creating such an institution or ????
“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” – President John F. Kennedy
Every Indian should remember this. It’s easy to look at others and compare their achievements or failures. The most difficult thing is to look at myself.
Prithwuee,
ChatRGee’s writeup makes me vomit. Wtf is a mondok?!
Rama,
You probably didnt even get the humour in DB’s comment. He isnt going to actually publish a novel you moron. You are the one who has his head in a drain.
I do not agree with Vijay. NRN is a great contributor and a great patriot. Yes, he is abusinessman and has earned wealth in a legitamate way. In doing so he has shown the world what India can achieve.
To add on to smitha’s comments. NRN is a late a entrant in the field of IT consultancy. TCS and wipro had made its way even before Infosys thought of the business plan. If NRN/Infosys did not do this to india what ever they have done, that business would have been shared among other IT consultancy companies and india/indians had nothing to loose out of Infosys’s absense. The bottom line is that a XYZ person who works for infosys now would have worked for Wipro/TCS or XYZ company, the business would still be with india. What has NRN done different from other companies. Even TCS and Wipro created millionaires, so what is great about Infosys. Infosys should share its wealth in eliminating poverty and increasing the literacy levels of indians than filling up of bank accounts of a lucky few. It should show that is has social responsibility and share the profit with underpriviledged citizens, only then NRN would be different.
Vijay, You know why Pidilite’s sale is so high in Karnataka? Because majority of the natives prefer to buy Fevicol, apply it to their chair and sit! NRN chose not to. By the way what is your point? You are mixing too many things. yes, there is a Corporate Social responsibility. But they can’t forget their business and go rural to teach and feed. That’s why Govt is there. If Infosys has created Jobs, that in turn feeds many who enjoy the boom of economy. I’m not considering the negative of economy boom, like disparity etc.
Folks, I ‘m not surprised if ‘paper tigers’ like Vijay go begging to Infosys for their ‘share’!!
There is no valid argument in Vijay’s comment. The point is not, if Infosys were not there people would have gone to other comnpanies. The point and fact is Insoys is providing employment. When it comes to Infosys or NRN we kannadigas always criticise whatever they do but nobody raises any questions about others. Is this because NRN because of his patriotic zeal, because of his concern for the nation, raises issues and presses government to go in the right directiion which is not palatable to many?
Anonymous: a stale, poor masquerade.
You could be anybody — AB,BD,DB,PK,KP,GS,RS,FU — spineless.
Opinions are like arse holes, everybody has one. But on this board individuals seem to have many :)
The bane of the digital media is that it takes away accountability of some sort. It’s a free unchecked domain. A place where the denizens don’t need policing. The police is within the individual.
Ours is no such society. We aren’t evolved that much, yet. Particularly the middle-class. We are better defined by – “Bitti xxxxx andre Maiyella xxxxx”. A country of proxies; A society teeming with hypocrites and other social criminals.
To prove my point, let this board mandate real identities(a sociological behavioral experiment of some sort), for just a month.
You will be surprised by the guarded responses (by the same individuals)…
Dear sister Smitha,
Please understand that every businessman works to make money. Creating employment or adding value to the country’s economy happens as a result. It’s no rocket science to understand this basic business philosophy.
Dear brother Vijay,
Whether you like it or not, NRN exists and his Infosys exists (forget the XYZ theory). If NRN is honest, he’ll go a long way, otherwise he has to bite the dust soon. Who are we to judge a person’s character? God and Karma decide everything.
I agree with Smitha that building a big institution/corporation from scratch, that has created and shared wealth, is no mean achievement. NRN certainly deserves credit in this regard. He is an aspirational figure to many an ordinary Indian. While one may disagree with what he said about the anthem, nobody can question his patriotism. I am amazed when people like Vijay reduce him to just a profiteer who has made money at the expense of other people’s hard work.
I will be happy if these remarks are directed at our politicians.
Prithwi,
Neevenu nin commentsalli nim addressu, phone numberu, jathaka etc. bittilalla?
How does it matter if you are Prithwi or whoever. Or for that matter who chatrgee is? What he wrote is some BS eulogy.
Go ahead, publish your whole janam kundali before you leave a comment. I wonder if that will make your ‘everyone-toe-the-same-line’ comments read any better? And your thoughts on policing and forcing identities on people who post are interesting…
BTW yavadhappa bitti ***** illi?
Prithwi,
Whatever…if there was a Nobel prize for stating the obvious, you will be a winner!
What is stopping you from getting ‘real’? Go ahead and post under your real name.
When you find your Utopian society, please send your GPS fix. Thanks.
Patriotism? Bah! We have plenty of patriots who blabber their heads off! And thats all they do!
The matter is simple…do we want to crucify NRN because of his Anthem remark??
Do the goombahs on the forum realize that “patriotic” folks out there even question the credibility of the self same anthem??? They call it an ode to the English King. Even Vande Mataram does not hold its own in a rational argument. It’s part and parcel of Ananda Matha which was Pro-British and Anti-Muslim in its essense. – So…how will dissenters characterise people who charge thus?
NRN may have been silly in making that remark…but let’s not fly off the handle here…and say stupid things about people we know little about and can appreciate their good works even less.
Lastly…this is not a kannadiga vs outsider issue! There is no reason to side with NRN because he is a Kannadiga!…He carries his own worth!
Well there is no difference for these people- I mean the new breeding groom of capitalists of bangalore.
Just because
they have a tax holiday
they serve the American pigs and playboy(one of Infosys’ clients)
they take in handy steps to promote bright looks into onsite.
they have a very beautiful set of managements which only abide by law of US.(a great Phanish Murthy episode)
they are slaves of English.
they are looked upon as leaders by magazines and page 3.
Well Vijay Mallya and NRN may have sold themselves to English in an attempt to up bring the Kannadigas but they don’t know who Kannadigas are and are missing their own air.
No wonder the ratio of kannadigas are less in their companies.
Never will be a capitalist allowed to grow here.
and never anyone can ruin our culture.
Miss Shaw : We sit at the top of knowledge (Gnaana Peetha).
Maybe u need some gnaan out of the farting blues of A/c and software Coffee Mugs.
…..Mathad Mathadu Miss.
NrN is the best indian businessman.
KmS is correct in defending him
UrA is a regional writer without any broader appeal,
Even in india none of his work sell much, one can argue india does not have taste, But thats not the arguement beeing made.
KmS’s company has done some good for all of humanity,
Hell nearly all there enzymes are patent free and they did a good service
by creating a business model where any one can just order some and conduct research.
Regarding Anonymousness’s rant “There is a feeling among many of us from Karnataka that uncontrolled growth and migration is taking away our way of life”
Good to know you share some sentiments with Thakres.