"Infosys was christened at Shivaji Park"

MUMBAI: Shivaji Park, the sprawling ground in central Mumbai, associated with political rallies and cricket matches, has an IT connection as well -- software giant Infosys was christened here.

This was disclosed by Sudha Murthy, wife of Infosys founder Narayan Murthy, at a function here last night.

"We decided to name our new company as Infosys while sitting at a corner of Shivaji Park," she told the audience at a function after the couple were presented the Yashwantrao Chavan Award for 2006.

Recalling the time spent in Mumbai, she said, "We have nice memories of our stay in both Mumbai and Pune."

"In Pune, we frequented the cinema halls so much that even the doormen there began to recognise us," she said, drawing peals of laughter from the audience and a shy grin from Narayan Murthy.

"Although I hail from Karnataka, I feel I also belong here," she said citing the example of Lord Krishna, "who belonged to both Devki and Yashod".

She took a dig at Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who presented the award, saying, "I thank you for presenting us separate shawls. Had this function been in Pune, I am sure we would have got a common shawl," apparently referring to the "calculative" trait associated with that city.

Responding in a lighter vein, Pawar said, "We are from Pune rural," implying the trait that she referred to was mainly an urban one. Murthy said she was indebted to readers in Maharashtra for their interest in translated copies of her books.

"In fact, my publisher tells me that the Marathi translations have sold more copies than the original version."

Sudha Murthy said she and her husband were "proud of our middle class origins". "Even now, we retain the same values. Money and values are different things," she added.

Recalling that Rs 10,000 contribution from her had helped launch Infosys, she said, "I am a good investor. See, what my Rs 10,000 has become today."

Pawar said if Murthy was known world over for leading India's IT revolution, it was Sudha Murthy, who had conquered the audience with her speech.

"While listening to her, I felt as if M S Dhoni was batting and hitting strokes everywhere," the BCCI president said.

Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Patil and Justice Y V Chandrachud, chairman of the award selection jury, were also present at the function  

Original Story