As the Drama Unfolds...

India needs more business historians and journalists to record many of these turning points in our business history for posterity

By
Indrajit Gupta
Last Updated: May 06, 2011, 06:10 IST2 min
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This is our third cover story on Infosys in less than two years. We’ve followed every twist and turn as the big story of N.R. Narayana Murthy’s exit has gradually unfolded. We’ve captured all the key turning points in our role as a true “drama critic of business”. This is a classic story that any business journalist would aspire to tell. And we’ve tried to pack in all the human drama and intrigue of a corporate pot-boiler. And so, to bring closure to our consistent reporting, this time we’ve focussed on the next leg of the story: How the new triad of K.V. Kamath, Kris Gopalakrishnan and S.D. Shibulal is likely to remake the $6 billion iconic corporation.

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There have been many special moments in the last two years that have stood out: Nandan Nilekani’s exit from Infosys to join the government and Mohandas Pai’s run-in with the rest of the founders and resultant resignation, both of which we had predicted before they happened. (By the way, we also put K.V. Kamath on our cover as the man Infy needed six months before he was made the new chairman.) Of course, none of these would even compare with the emotion of watching the 65-year-old Murthy break down at the April 30 press conference at Infosys’ Electronic City campus in Bangalore.

Someday, someone will succeed in persuading Murthy to write a book about Infosys. In case he doesn’t, I’ve been trying to persuade my colleague and Contributing Editor Mitu Jayashankar to put together all her valuable research into a book. I can gladly say that we’re making some good progress on that front. Clearly, India needs more business historians and journalists to record many of these turning points in our business history for posterity. And Forbes India will remain committed to chronicling this journey at every step.

Before you rush ahead to read this edition, make sure you don’t miss an interesting story: The arrival of composite buses in India. Nearly four months ago, my colleagues and I visited a relatively small factory in Hinjewadi in Pune, owned by the Indian subsidiary of Saertex, a German advanced materials maker. That day-long visit sparked off an exciting story on how India could be on the brink of a public transport revolution, if these incredibly sturdy and light buses make their way onto our roads. I’d now leave you to enjoy this story and the rest of the edition.

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First Published: May 06, 2011, 06:10

InfosysN.R. Narayana Murthy
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