Belgaum:
Commending the strides made by Karnataka's capital, software icon N R Narayan Murthy today said it won't be a surprise if " Bangalored" gets into the English dictionary in a short time.
(Read: Ash, Narayan Murthy at World Kannada Meet)Inaugurating the three-day "Vishwa Kannada Sammelana" (World Kannada Conference) here, the chief mentor of Infosys Technologies Ltd said Karnataka is famous not just for its gold mines, sandalwood and silk, but has attracted global attention in the field of modern technology.
"Our state's capital has become a hub for software companies. Bangalore is one of famous cities in the world. In a short time, it won't be a surprise if 'Bangalored' gets into the English dictionary," he said addressing the gathering.
'Bangalored' refers to people who have been laid off from their jobs due to outsourcing.
Murthy made a passionate appeal to the present generation to eradicate poverty."I am a setting sun. You are the country's assets, future and rising sun," he said.
Asking them to work hard with sincerity and discretion, he said: "If you chase money, it will run away from you. First you have to learn your work. Love your work".
Seeking to strike a chord with tens of thousands who thronged the function, Murthy termed himself as "son-in-law of north Karnataka" (his wife Sudha is from Hubli, part of north Karnataka of which Belgaum is also a part).
Recalling that he was born at Shidlagatta in Kolar district, Murthy, whose choice to inagurate the meet was opposed by a small group of Kannada litterateurs who sought to label him "anti-Kannada", said: "By heart I am always a Kannadiga. I always like to express my feelings in Kannada. My language at home is Kannada".
He said that while working in other parts of India after completing his bachelors in engineering, he dreamt of how beautiful it would be if people from outside migrated to Karnataka.
"When I sit at the sprawling Infosys campus and see young men and women speaking different languages, my mind flies back 40 years".
Murthy said he is reminded of the poor even as Karnataka is on the path of rapid development. "Many villages lack toilets, good teachers, proper power supply, no drinking water and enough good health centres".
He said India's and Karnataka's prosperity is not just big towns and software companies. Progress is achieved only when there's improvement in people's lives in distant villages and they get basic facilities.
"We have to think in this direction" Earlier today, the Sammelana took off with a grand procession depicting Karnataka's rich culture. Tableaux from various districts, performance by thousands of artistes, including folk, enthralled the crowds.