Narayana Murthy’s Vision Takes Center Stage at Book Launch
Bengaluru witnessed an intellectually charged event as N R Narayana Murthy, the visionary founder of Infosys, expressed his thoughts on the transformational power of application-based learning in the education sector. This profound discourse occurred during the launch of the book ‘Empowering India — Ideas for Action by Scientists and Engineers’, a collaborative effort between Thalappil Pradeep, a distinguished Chemistry professor at IIT Madras, and Krishnan Narayanan, the esteemed president of Itihasa Research and Digital.
At the event held on a Sunday at the Infosys Science Foundation in Jayanagar, Murthy’s insights reverberated with the audience, as he championed the notion that schools and educational institutions must embrace an approach rooted in application-based learning. This transformation, he asserted, is key to nurturing resilience and innovation within India’s educational landscape.
Delving into the role of technology in India’s public governance system, Murthy engaged the authors and attendees in a discourse on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. He highlighted their potential in accelerating decision-making processes and driving effective governance within the nation.
During his address, Murthy recounted a conversation with a former union minister that left a lasting impression. When discussing the foundational elements of a country’s economic growth, he discovered that the linchpin wasn’t the conventional trio of financial capital, labor, and raw materials. Instead, the minister emphasized the paramount importance of a government’s ability to make judicious, swift, corruption-free decisions. This perspective underscored the critical role of efficient decision-making in shaping a nation’s progress.
The gathering also witnessed the presence of other notable figures, including Prof. Umesh Waghmare, President of the Indian Academy, and Prof. T. Pradeep of IIT Madras. Their participation underscored the interdisciplinary nature of the discussions, bridging the realms of education, science, and technology.
The launch event not only unveiled a book but also ignited a thought-provoking conversation that echoed Narayana Murthy’s visionary beliefs. As the call for application-based learning resonates, it rekindles the discourse on innovative pedagogy, nurturing the next generation of thinkers and problem-solvers in India’s educational landscape.
The words spoken at this event, charged with wisdom and forward-looking insight, now echo as a catalyst for change, inviting educators, institutions, and policymakers to reimagine the educational journey with an emphasis on real-world applications and the fostering of resilient, creative minds.