Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Avoidable slip

Infosys Chief Mentor N.R. Narayana Murthy's comment to the media that the singing of the national anthem at the function attended by the President in his Mysore office (where the instrumental version was played) would have embarrassed employees of foreign origin was outrageous. In fact, it is his remark that has created tremendous embarrassment for him and the nation. We invite a head of state every year as chief guest to participate in our Republic Day celebrations. Do we skip singing the national anthem in his presence?

Kishore Kumar Soma,
Hyderabad

It was not proper for the mentor of a leading company to say what he did. I am sure Mr. Murthy would have sung the national anthem in school. Why on earth should he fight shy of singing it before foreigners?

G. Kannan,
Bangalore

Mr. Murthy's comment is just a sample of what constitutes the priorities of the new children of technology and high money. His attitude is reflected at various levels among the young. Aged parents and blood relations are as unimportant as the national anthem to many. It is time we took necessary steps against cultural erosion caused through such attitudes.

Nisha Gopalan,
Chennai

Let us take Mr. Murthy's remark as a slip of the tongue and forget the incident, especially in view of his prompt apology. Do not our politicians have more important problems to deal with instead of making a mountain out of a molehill?

C.K. Satyaraj,
Kochi

No doubt it would have been desirable to stick to protocol strictly at a function to which the President was invited. But certainly Mr. Murthy meant no insult to the national anthem. He has tendered an apology for the unintended lapse.

C.N.N. Nair,
Mumbai

Those politicians who are putting Mr. Murthy on the dock for a slip must introspect whether burning of buses, calling for bandhs, throwing people's lives out of gear, and similar acts are not anti-national.

N. Srikanta,
Mysore

It is amusing to see politicians demanding action against Mr. Murthy. I think they should look into the mirror.

If the country is in the mess it finds itself in, it is entirely due to the political class. On the other hand, national pride the national anthem reflects is entirely due to people like Mr. Murthy.

N.K. Raveendran,
Bangalore

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