Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Feb 28: Well-known litterateur, Prof Baragur Ramachandrappa, has strongly objected to the choice of Infosys Technologies chief mentor, N R Narayana Murthy, for inaugurating the Vishwa Kannada Sammelan being held in Belgaum shortly.

“Narayana Murthy is an excellent entrepreneur from our state, and we are proud of him. He can be expected to inaugurate the World Investors’ Meet, but not Vishwa Kannada Sammelan. What contribution has he made towards Kannada? None of the Kannada softwares were contributed by his company,” Baragur said in a letter addressed to the state Chief Minister.

He recollected that Murthy has been insisting for English to be the medium of instruction since the first standard. Ramachandrappa also alleged, that during the period S M Krishna was the Chief Minister, Murthy had brought pressure to change the rule about the medium of instruction for opening primary schools in English medium for the children of the Infosys employees.

“The government should take into consideration the alleged tax evasion by Infosys Technologies to the tune of Rs 450 crore by furnishing wrong information to the income tax department. Therefore, Murthy should be invited in the capacity of a guest, and not the inaugurator of the Sammelan,” he has demanded. He also suggested that Rashtrakavi Dr G S Shivarudrappa, Jnan Pith awardees, Dr Anantamurty or Dr Girish Karnad, veteran leaders, Patil Puttappa, De Javare Gowda, poet, Nissar Ahmed, or one of the folklore artistes, may be approached for inaugurating the event. He opined that allowing an entrepreneur to inaugurate the Sammelan signifies apathy towards Kannada culture and folklore, and insult to Kannadigas.