At 73, Sudha Murty is a renowned philanthropist, author, and former chairperson of the Infosys Foundation.
Author and philanthropist Sudha Murty has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on March 8 via official social media platform.
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PM Modi expressed his delight at Murty’s nomination to the Upper House, emphasising the significant role it plays in showcasing ‘Nari Shakti’ or Women Power.
“I am delighted that the President of India has nominated @SmtSudhaMurty Ji to the Rajya Sabha. Sudha Ji’s contributions to diverse fields including social work, philanthropy and education have been immense and inspiring.” To subscribe please click tau.id/2iy6f and access our live channel.
Murty, who is not in India at the moment, thanked PM Modi for the nomination and said, “It’s a big Women’s Day gift to me. It’s a new responsibility to work for the country.”
Life-History & Achievements
Born on August 19, 1950 in Karnataka’s Shiggaon, Sudha Murty began her career as a computer scientist and engineer, going on to become the first female engineer hired at Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company (Telco).
Murty graduated in engineering from BVB College of Engineering. Securing the first rank across all branches, she earned a gold medal from the Institute of Engineers. Later, she pursued her ME from the Indian Institute of Science, achieving distinction.
Sudha Murty, married to Infosys founder Narayana Murthy, is a prolific writer in Kannada and English, authoring novels, technical books, and travelogues. She is mother to venture capitalist Akshata Murty, who is married to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Murty is also a writer in English and Kannada. With 30 books and over 200 titles, including novels, non-fiction, children’s books, travelogues, technical books, and memoirs to her name. Her works have been translated into major Indian languages, selling over 26 lakh copies across the country.
She is known for her advocacy of social causes and has travelled extensively abroad as a prominent voice for social awareness. Murty is actively involved in public healthcare initiatives with the Gates Foundation and has established orphanages contributed to rural development, advocated for computer and library facilities in Karnataka government schools, and founded the Murty Classical Library of India at Harvard University.
Recognised for her social work, Murty was awarded the Padma Shri in 2006 and the Padma Bhushan in 2023 by the Government of India, making her one of the recipients of the highest civilian honours. For her literary achievements, Murty has received seven honorary doctorates. Awards such as the RK Narayan Award for Literature, the Attimabbe Award for Excellence in Kannada Literature in 2011, and the Lifetime Achievement by Crossword Book Awards in 2018 reflect her significant impact.
The Padma Bhushan awardee chairs the Infosys Foundation, which has tackled issues like poverty, healthcare, and sanitation. Through the foundation, she’s built thousands of homes in flood-affected areas, established libraries in schools, and funded the construction of public toilets.
