“The young generation must work with a sense of responsibility toward the nation and society. We must care for the underprivileged sections of society, or else we are no better than animals. Becoming a responsible citizen and working toward the country’s betterment is true nationalism. Merely wrapping oneself in the national flag does not make one a true nationalist,” Murthy said while speaking at the Sustainability Crusade award ceremony organised by the J P Shroff Foundation in Hyderabad on Friday.
Narayana Murthy on climate change
Further, Murthy spoke about the challenges of climate change, saying that parts of India and Africa could be severely affected by rising temperatures.
He also highlighted the risk of climate change-driven migration within India, warning that it could exacerbate urban pressures in cities like Pune and Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
“And what is likely to happen is that there will be a mass migration from rural parts of states… into habitable places like Bangalore, maybe Pune, maybe Hyderabad, etc,” he said.
“These cities have become extremely challenging to live in, difficult to navigate, and have witnessed rising pollution levels. They are heading toward becoming unlivable. Therefore, the industrial sector, along with policymakers, must take steps to mitigate the effects of climate change and prevent future large-scale migration,” he added.
Murthy spoke on the need for collaboration among politicians, bureaucrats, and corporate leaders to prevent such scenarios, by giving the example of Infosys’ innovations in battery technologies leadership in sustainability.
He said that despite India’s traditionally slow initial response to challenges, he was optimistic about the nation achieving its 2030 targets.
