Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has hailed the Infosys co-founder N. R. Narayana Murthy for what he described as the contribution he made to the Indian economy and the generation of entrepreneurs in the future as a business leader. Murthy will celebrate his 80th birthday on August 20, 2026.
Ramesh highlighted Murthy’s contribution to India’s corporate landscape and his influence beyond the growth of Infosys. “And Murthy developed new standards of professionalism, corporate values and entrepreneurship at a time when India’s private sector was becoming very much in transition,” said the Congress leader.
Narayana Murthy co-founded Infosys with six other people in 1981 in a small software company that has since grown to become one of India's largest tech companies worldwide. Infosys’ expansion has been closely linked to the growth of India’s information technology and software services industry.
Ramesh recalled meeting Murthy nearly five decades ago. The Infosys founder inspired a new generation of entrepreneurs through integrity, humility and simplicity, he said. Murthy’s words highlight the influence he has on technology entrepreneurs and the corporate governance and ethical business practices his work has also had.
Murthy’s career has been closely linked to India’s emergence as a major destination for global technology services. Infosys grew internationally and adopted a global delivery model that is now very influential in the Indian IT services industry.
In 1999, it was also listed on Nasdaq and is also a very important step in the globalisation of Indian technology companies.
Murthy’s 2023 speech to the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad was a reflection of the ideas that influenced his decision to become an entrepreneur. The ability of entrepreneurship and free markets to generate jobs and prosperity and responsible corporate leadership was discussed in this session.
Ramesh’s tribute comes at a time when Murthy’s legacy still needs to be addressed in the context of India’s economic and technological transformation. From the early days of the software industry to the growth of Indian companies into international markets, the Infosys story has become a bedrock in the country’s modern business history.
As Ramesh noted, the praise also reflects the recognition of entrepreneurs who had changed the perception of Indian companies worldwide, and their ability to compete globally. Murthy’s focus on professional management, corporate governance and ethical behaviour is still very much embedded in his public image.
Narayana Murthy turns 80 today and the contributions of political and business circles are reflected in his life. His life is a testimony to the transformation from an economically closed culture to a globally integrated technology and enterprise hub.
