Premji urges privileged class to help the deprived

Wipro Ltd chairman Azim Premji today stressed that people from the privileged class need to have social engagement with the underprivileged ones for the development of the country.
"There is extraordinary inequality, deprivation and injustice all around us and I think we need to be conscious of this reality, because it is the highly intelligent and capable people like you who are key to making our country better," Premji said in his address as the chief guest at the Graduation Day of PGP Class of 2014 and PGPMAX Class of 2013 of Indian School of Business (ISB) here.
"You must get engaged with people who are far less privileged than you. I think you must devote your time if not your resources...Because it is very very important from the point of view of the development of our country.

"I don't think this will happen just by each one of us doing their job well. That may be a good place to start, but I think it is necessary to have some genuine social engagement. All of us here are privileged, some more some less.
"I think that privilege gives us not only a responsibility, but the way I see it is an opportunity to get socially engaged...To help those around us who face inequity, injustice and deprivation," Premji said.
"And I do believe, that if each of us does whatever we can, within our capability, capacity and our constraints, to reach out to even one of our fellow underprivileged citizens, it can make an enormous difference to our country," he added.

Premji further said, "Innovations, big ideas, being different, all have a place - and sometimes can be very important. However, what really builds and sustains success, are the much ignored ordinary things. The three ordinary things that we often don't pay enough attention to, but which I believe are the drivers of all success are hard work, perseverance and basic honesty."
Premji, who set up the Azim Premji Foundation, said "The biggest bane is that the community in our country does not exercise the right to information in terms of questioning the quality of the primary education in their own schools where their own children study. But if you are able to ignite that interest and get them to push, we can transform the quality of education in our schools in the villages.