I Will Do It — N.R. Narayana Murthy
"Performance leads to recognition. There are no shortcuts to success."
About N.R. Narayana Murthy
Born 1946 in a middle-class family in Mysore. Father was a school teacher. BRILLIANT student — B.Tech from IIT Kanpur, M.Tech.
The Crucial Decision
Accepted at a prestigious university abroad. But his family could NOT afford the expenses. He told his father: 'I will not go. I will stay and work in India.' This decision — born of RESPONSIBILITY — changed his life.
Building Infosys
With ₹10,000 borrowed from his wife Sudha, he co-founded INFOSYS in 1981 — with SIX other engineers in a small apartment in Pune. The early years were HARD: Government regulations. Licence Raj. No venture capital. 'We knew we were building something IMPORTANT. We just didn't know HOW big.'
The Result
Infosys became one of the WORLD'S LARGEST IT services companies. Narayana Murthy became one of India's most RESPECTED business leaders.
Key Values
- Hard Work: 'Excellence requires SACRIFICE.'
- Integrity: 'When in doubt, DISCLOSE.' Infosys famous for transparent accounting.
- Simple Living: Despite being a billionaire, Murthy maintains a RELATIVELY SIMPLE LIFE.
- Giving Back: Murthy and Sudha have donated BILLIONS to education and healthcare.
Exam-Focused Question
What values can we learn from Narayana Murthy's life? Hard work (no shortcuts). Integrity (honesty in business). Responsibility (putting family first). Simplicity (money is not the goal — impact is). Generosity (giving back to society).
Full Summary
The chapter tells the inspiring story of N.R. NARAYANA MURTHY — the co-founder of INFOSYS, one of India's largest and most respected IT services companies. Born in 1946 in a MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILY in Mysore, Murthy's journey from a modest beginning to becoming a GLOBAL BUSINESS ICON is a testament to HARD WORK, INTEGRITY, and PERSISTENCE.
Early Life: Murthy's father was a SCHOOL TEACHER — the family had MODEST MEANS. But Murthy was a BRILLIANT STUDENT. He studied at IIT KANPUR (one of India's premier engineering institutes) — a remarkable achievement for a middle-class boy. He later earned a master's degree.
The Crucial Decision: Murthy was accepted for a PRESTIGIOUS PROGRAM at a foreign university. But his family could NOT afford the expenses. 'My father was worried. I could see the PAIN in his eyes. He wanted to send me, but he couldn't afford it.' Murthy told his father: 'I WILL NOT GO. I will stay and work in India.' This decision — putting FAMILY RESPONSIBILITY before personal ambition — was a DEFINING MOMENT. 'I WILL DO IT in India,' he vowed.
Early Career: Murthy worked in various organisations, gaining experience. He dreamt of building something of his OWN — a company that would put India on the global technology map.
Founding Infosys: In 1981, with ₹10,000 BORROWED FROM HIS WIFE SUDHA, Murthy co-founded INFOSYS with SIX other engineers (Nandan Nilekani, S.D. Shibulal, K. Dinesh, S. Gopalakrishnan, K.V. Raghunandan, and Ashok Arora). They started in a SMALL APARTMENT in Pune. The early years were INCREDIBLY HARD.
The Challenges of Licence Raj: India in the 1980s was under the LICENCE RAJ — a system of strict government regulations and controls. Starting a business was ENORMOUSLY DIFFICULT. Getting permits, importing computers, and operating internationally required endless BUREAUCRATIC approvals. 'We knew we were building something IMPORTANT. We just didn't know HOW big it would become.'
Growth and Success: Despite ALL obstacles, Infosys grew STEADILY. The company went public in 1993. It became the FIRST Indian company to list on NASDAQ (1999). It grew into a GLOBAL IT POWERHOUSE with over 300,000 employees and operations in 50+ countries.
Character Analysis
| Narayana Murthy's Qualities | Evidence from the Text |
|---|---|
| RESPONSIBILITY | Chose to stay in India when family could not afford foreign education. 'I WILL DO IT in India.' |
| HARD WORK | Worked tirelessly to build Infosys from just ₹10,000 into a global giant. |
| INTEGRITY | 'When in doubt, DISCLOSE.' Infosys became famous for transparent accounting and ethical practices. |
| DETERMINATION | 'I will do it' — repeated determination to succeed despite ALL obstacles. |
| SIMPLICITY | Despite becoming a billionaire, Murthy maintains a relatively simple lifestyle. |
| GENEROSITY | Donated BILLIONS to education, healthcare, and social causes through the Sudha and Narayana Murthy Foundation. |
| HUMILITY | Never forgot his middle-class roots. Credits his success to his team and his wife. |
Key Values in Detail
1. Hard Work — 'Excellence Requires Sacrifice'
Murthy believes that EXCELLENCE does not come easily. It requires HARD WORK, DISCIPLINE, and SACRIFICE. Infosys was built on this philosophy. He expected 100% COMMITMENT from himself and his team. 'Performance leads to recognition. There are no SHORTCUTS to success.'
2. Integrity — 'When in Doubt, Disclose'
This is perhaps Murthy's MOST FAMOUS principle. At Infosys, TRANSPARENCY was a CORE VALUE. Every financial decision was DISCLOSED. Every conflict of interest was AVOIDED. Infosys was the FIRST Indian company to: Adopt US GAAP accounting. Conduct regular analyst meetings. Publish detailed annual reports. 'Integrity is not about being PUNISHED for wrong action. It is about DOING THE RIGHT THING even when no one is watching.'
3. Putting Family First
Murthy's decision to STAY IN INDIA rather than go abroad for studies shows that FAMILY RESPONSIBILITY comes before personal ambition. He could have gone abroad — as many talented Indians did. But he chose to SUPPORT his family and ACHIEVE SUCCESS in India. 'True success is NOT about individual achievement — it is about FULFILLING YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES to those who depend on you.'
4. Simple Living
Despite being a BILLIONAIRE, Murthy lives a RELATIVELY SIMPLE LIFE. He is known for his modest lifestyle — living in the same apartment, driving a simple car, dressing without ostentation. 'Money is not an end in itself. It is a MEANS to make a DIFFERENCE.'
5. Giving Back
Murthy and his wife Sudha are among India's MOST GENEROUS PHILANTHROPISTS. Through the Sudha and Narayana Murthy Foundation, they have donated BILLIONS to: Education (schools, scholarships), Healthcare (rural health initiatives), Social entrepreneurship (supporting social enterprises), Infrastructure (libraries, public spaces). 'The true measure of wealth is not what you ACCUMULATE — it is what you GIVE BACK.'
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning | Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Integrity | The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles | 'Murthy is known for his integrity.' |
| Perseverance | Continued effort despite difficulty | 'Perseverance built Infosys.' |
| Modest | Not large in amount; humble | 'Murthy came from a modest family.' |
| Determination | Firmness of purpose | 'His determination never wavered.' |
| Philanthropy | The desire to promote the welfare of others | 'Murthy's philanthropy is widely admired.' |
| Innovation | The introduction of new methods or ideas | 'Innovation drove Infosys's growth.' |
| Transparent | Open and honest; easy to see through | 'Infosys practised transparent accounting.' |
| Global | Relating to the whole world | 'Infosys became a global technology company.' |
Important Quotes
| Quote | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 'I WILL DO IT.' | The determination to succeed in India despite all obstacles. |
| 'Performance leads to recognition. There are no shortcuts to success.' | Hard work and results — not shortcuts or connections — lead to success. |
| 'When in doubt, DISCLOSE.' | Transparency and honesty are the foundation of trust. |
| 'Excellence requires SACRIFICE.' | Great achievements demand hard work and personal sacrifice. |
Exam-Focused Questions (Extended)
Q1. Describe the crucial decision that Narayana Murthy made and how it shaped his life. Murthy was accepted at a foreign university but his family could not afford it. He chose to STAY IN INDIA, telling his father 'I WILL DO IT in India.' This decision: (a) demonstrated his RESPONSIBILITY and maturity, (b) set him on the path of building a world-class company in India, (c) became a DEFINING MOMENT that shaped his character. It proved that GREATNESS COULD BE ACHIEVED IN INDIA.
Q2. How did Murthy's values help him build Infosys? Murthy's INTEGRITY built TRUST with clients, investors, and employees — Infosys became known for transparent accounting. His HARD WORK set an example that inspired his entire team. His DETERMINATION helped the company survive the difficult Licence Raj era. His VISION attracted some of India's best talent. 'Values are not separate from business success — they ARE the foundation of business success.'
Q3. What does Murthy mean by 'When in doubt, DISCLOSE'? This is Murthy's principle of TRANSPARENCY. Whenever there is any ambiguity about whether to reveal information, the answer should ALWAYS be 'yes — disclose it.' This principle helped Infosys build UNRIVALLED TRUST with investors and clients. In the long run, transparency is ALWAYS better than secrecy.
Q4. What is the significance of the title 'I Will Do It'? The title reflects Murthy's DETERMINATION and SELF-BELIEF. When he told his father he would succeed in India, he was making a POWERFUL STATEMENT of intent. 'I Will Do It' became his MANTRA — driving him through every obstacle. The title is NOT about arrogant boasting — it is about QUIET CONFIDENCE and UNWAVERING DETERMINATION.
Self-Test Questions
- Where was Narayana Murthy born? What was his family background?
- What was the CRUCIAL DECISION Murthy made about his education? Why?
- Who did Murthy borrow ₹10,000 from to start Infosys?
- Name any FOUR other co-founders of Infosys.
- What was the LICENCE RAJ? How did it affect Infosys's early years?
- What does Murthy mean by 'Performance leads to recognition'?
- Explain Murthy's principle: 'When in doubt, DISCLOSE.'
- How has Murthy CONTRIBUTED to society through philanthropy?
- What values can YOUNG PEOPLE learn from Narayana Murthy's life?
- What is the significance of Infosys listing on NASDAQ?
Answers to Selected Questions: Q3: He borrowed ₹10,000 from his wife SUDHA MURTHY. Q6: Success comes from RESULTS, not from connections or shortcuts. Work hard, produce excellent work, and RECOGNITION will follow. Q9: (1) Responsibility — put family first. (2) Hard work — excellence requires sacrifice. (3) Integrity — honesty in all dealings. (4) Simplicity — money is not the goal. (5) Generosity — give back to society. (6) Determination — never give up.
