The Hindu Business Line : Indian Govt can take inspiration from Infosys, says Lee Kuan Yew

IMPRESSED with Infosys Technologies' progress, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, better known as the founding father of Singapore, said on Saturday that the Indian Government could take a leaf out of the IT firm to spread the philosophy of integrity and excellence and transform the country.

"I feel that this is the kind of test bed of what can be achieved in India despite all the problems that exist. It is little incubators like this, when multiplied, can transform India," Mr Lee, the Minister Mentor of Singapore, said during his visit to Infosys city, the corporate headquarters of the company in Bangalore.

Welcoming Mr Lee, the Infosys Chairman, Mr N.R. Narayana Murthy, said that no visit by a foreign dignitary so far has given such pleasure as this one. After witnessing a presentation on Infy's progress, the Singaporean Minister Mentor sought to know the employee attrition, the names of its domestic and foreign competitors and whether foreign rivals were poaching on its employees. .

`Join politics': Mr Leesaid skills, talent and professionalism should not be just confined to the corporate circle alone, but also extended to public polity. He wondered how Mr Murthy was out of the Union Cabinet and wished him to join electoral politics for the benefit of the society.

Reacting to Mr Lee's wishes, Mr Murthy said he was honoured, but not interested in joining politics. "Managing a company with a set of homogenous people was far more easier than managing a country with such a vast diverse background and culture. It's another ball-game altogether. I have no illusions I can do that," Mr Murthy said.

Disagreeing with Mr Murthy's reply, Mr Lee suggested that Infosys could send a small core team to the Union Cabinet and transform India by "spreading the culture of integrity and excellence" that the company was best known for both in India and the rest of the world

"There is a need to spread that philosophy with the Government. But, how to get elected is the moot question," the Singaporean leader said, evoking laughter among the audience.

Mr Murthy said that he was inspired by two personalities in his life — Mahatma Gandhi and Lee Kuan Yew, who had transformed a third world country into a developed one. "To me, leaders should dirty their hands and go to the trenches. That is the best way to demonstrate the value and spread the culture of excellence," he said.

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