Education sector should be freed from all political influences, Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy said in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
Murthy, who was addressing an award ceremony on the pharmaceutical industry, said India should strengthen its ties with countries with world-class institutions.
Interacting with innovators and professionals during ‘Rajnibhai V Patel PharmInnova Awards’, organised by Troikaa, Department of Science and Technology and L M College of Pharmacy, Murthy said that while we recognize achievements of ancient Indian scientists, it is a fact that today, Indian universities do not figure in top 300 universities globally.
“What to do if we want to create 10 institutions that figure in top 50 globally? We have to delink education to politics. This cannot be done unless politicians realize that the future of the country depends upon education. It can be done if education is best left for educationists. Don’t bring ideology,” said Murthy.
He also suggested that there should be regular interactions between countries who have good universities. We need to be open-minded, understand how they performed well. That way we can catch up and perhaps overtake them,” he said.
Replying to a question on what he thinks about innovation, Murthy replied that innovation making things, solutions, gadgets that are faster, cheaper and better than their predecessors and this could be true for the performance of persons independent of where they stand in the organizational hierarchy. “Innovation should be limited to laboratories or to just seniors. It is applicable to employees at the lowest level (of the hierarchy) to the highest level,” he said.
On a question about how to face challenges and adversities, Murthy replied that while some situations are under control of human beings, some are not. In the case of a former one needs to try to find a solution and in case of later, one needs to have faith in God. He advised young professionals not to lose hope and believe in oneself. Industries commissioner Mamta Verma called upon the innovators to focus on innovation. “Innovation is critical for the industry. Don’t be afraid of taking risks. The government is ready to help you,” she told innovators.
