From an INFOSCION to a POLITICION - Nandan's Chronicles - 1

The recent news headlines that the Co-Chairman of Infosys, Nandan Nilekani will be joining the Government planned initiative of Unique Identification Authority of India, did manage to surprise me. Finally we are seeing some kind of private-public partnership which is so common in the developed countries. I wish Mr. Nilekani all the best in his endeavours and hope that he successfully accomplished this project like the many others that he has during his tenure in Infosys.

But imagine my woes!!! Little did I consider the fact that if Government of India was like Government of India Ltd, things would not have been in such a disarray and abeyance.

So, after the initial days of Nandan’s foray into unchartered territory, I had a sneak peak into his diary. Unlike his erstwhile corner room cabin in the sprawling Infosys campus, he had to make do with a common room at the Yojna Bhavan building and the diary was just lying on the table.

So, presenting here ONLY FOR YOU, the unabridged first person account of Nandan’s experiences of the first couple of days into his new avatar!!!!!



DATE- 15th JUNE 2009

TIME – 8.00 am

INFOSYS CAMPUS

I am really excited today. Finally I shall be able to do something that I always yearned to do- involve myself in the public good and welfare!!! Wow!!! This just seems like a dream!!!! I could not believe when I got a call from the PMO asking me whether I was interested in taking up this project-Unique Identification Authority of India. The designation offered is a Cabinet Minister, my immediate Project Manager would be Manmohan and the Senior Project Manager would be Sonia, under the section of Remuneration, it was written – Remuneration is a matter of appetite and capacity of the resource. I intend to find out more on this. I had a word with Murthy and this is what he had to tell me,” Nandan, I think you should take this offer up. There are 2 reasons for that. The first one being that this will remind you that we were a group who started this company and till date, I am hearing complaints from the remaining chaps that even they want to run the show for some time. This will also give you a chance to experience the speed and pace of the Government sector and I shall stand redeemed for all those comments you used to make about me being slow during the days of us getting the licenses to get computers etc.”

So, like always, I heeded to Murthy’s idea and decided to jump at the opportunity. I follow the processes for the F & F at Infosys in anticipation of a great career ahead!!!

DATE – 20th JULY 2009

TIME – 8.00 am

PARLIAMENT HOUSE

I am very nervous. I will be meeting all the big and great leaders of my country today. I am wearing a brand new suit that I have got for this occasion. As I enter the security check, I am frisked by a machine (very similar to the ones seen at airports, but somebody told me that it also checks that one cannot carry his/her brains inside!!!). I just rubbish this rumour. I am told that I need to deposit my mobile phone and my laptop bag. I request that I need to take my laptop bag as I have a presentation to make today. The durbaan seemingly did not understand this and does let me take my laptop bag inside.

I happen to see some of our leaders, walking purposefully, thoughtfully chewing paan-tobacco, probably thinking about the issues at hand, I presume. I see my immediate PM (Project Manager) Manmohan. He is waving out to me. I smile and walk up to him. He wishes me all the best and tells me that he will be introducing me to the House today. I thank him and ask him whether I can get a laptop docking station somewhere so that I can charge up my laptop before the presentation.

He mentions that during the last Government, when the ruling party needed support, TDP’s Chandrababu Naidu had joined the Government. During that time, Naidu had demanded that all the rooms in the Parliament House be made Wi-Fi and each desk in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha be provided with a laptop docking station.

I immediately heaved a sigh of relief. There would not be any glitches. I am ashamed to say this but even in our offices, things don’t work only when there are client presentations!!!!

My relief was very short lived. Before I could thank Manmohan, he went on to mention that during the last Vote of No Confidence, it was Samajwadi Party who had supported the Government. Eradication of Computers was a prime agenda on the Samajwadi Manifesto and hence Mulayam Singh had demanded that all the Wi-Fi services and docking stations be removed from both the houses. What a Sakt decision!!! I am a bit worried about how would I be making the presentation if the laptop is not charged!!!! Manmohan assures me that he will arrange for adequate time towards that and I should not worry about it. Such a considerate Manager he is!!!!!


Just like my corner office cabin, I am given a corner seat in the big grand hall. I have always seen this on television. This is amazing. These guys have taken utmost care to ensure that I feel at home here also. It was only much later that I was told that the corner seat offered the least risk of being hit by microphone or microphone stands during the parliamentary sessions and since I was not an adept shirker of shoulders (or tasks), it would be safer for me to sit in a corner!!!!

The morning session is starting off!!!!! The Honourable Speaker has arrived. I am nervous, just like my first day at Patni!!!!

I shall provide the details of what transpired during the day after EOD/COP (whatever is the jargon used in your organization)!!!! Await my next blog!!!!!!

As I take my nascent steps into this new domain,

I hope that leaving that lucrative job will not be in vain,

All my life I dreamt of saving my country from all crises,

Hope that from Infosys, I do not fall into an Abyss!!!!


Sriky