Like a daughter’s marriage for Murthy

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New Delhi, May 18: Leaving Infosys is for Mr N. R. Narayana Murthy is like sending away his daughter after her marriage, the founder and outgoing chairman has said in his last letter to the company’s shareholders. “The best analogy that I can think of for this separation between Infosys and me is that of one’s daughter getting married and leaving her parents’ home,” Mr Murthy said in an emotional letter to Infosys’ shareholders.

Having nurtured India’s leading IT firm for the last 30 years, Mr Murthy would be succeeded by eminent banker, Mr K. V. Kamath, as the Infosys’ chairman with effect from August 21 and would thereafter beco-me ‘chairman emeritus’. Mr Murthy, in his letter published in the company’s annual report for 2010-11, went on to say that he had to go through tough times explaining to his son and daughter about whom he loved more — Infosys or the family.

He said that his children do not believe him, even today, that he loved them more than anything else. “When I was spending 16-hours in a day at the office and was away from home for as many as 330 days in a year, it was hard for my children to believe in my commitment to the family.” Terming the Infosys’ journey as an integral part of his life, Mr Murthy said that most of his colleagues tell him that “Infosys is an inseparable part of me and I am an inseparable part of Infosys.”

“I have been the Number One actor in every major decision taken in the company. I have rejoiced in every significant milestone of the company. I have commiserated in every false step that this company has taken,” he asserted. He added that the company has given away Rs 50,000 crore (at current prices) of stock options to its employees since inception.

Writing in an article titled Goodbye, folks. March on with values, in the firm’s 2010-11 annual report, he said, “I do not know of any Indian company that has given away as much as Rs 50,000 crore (at current prices) of stock options to employees.” At times, he said Infosys turned bureaucratic, its business ethics got jeopardised and some of its leaders failed to take bold decisions. Listing out “the moments of great dilemmas and sadness” during his 30-year tenure, he said: “Accepting the resignation of a senior colleague and dealing with the instance where our code of ethics was jeopardised were tests of adherence to our values.”

“Deliberating all alone on the resignation offer of a co-founder is not something I would wish even upon my enemy,” he added. Perhaps hinting at the recent incidents when two directors, Mr K. Dinesh and Mr T.V. Mohandas Pai, resigned from the company, he said: “Being accused of violating our own high standards of business ethics made me lose several nights of sleep”.