Sudha Murthy – currently serves as a chairperson of the Infosys foundation. Wife of a co-founder of Infosys Mr.Narayan Murthy. Recently Sudha Murthy has been nominated to Rajya Sabha by President of India.
PM Narendra Modi on X, formerly known as Twitter, writes,”I am delighted that the President of India has nominated Sudha Murthy ji to the Rajya Sabha. Sudha Ji’s contributions to diverse fields including social work, philanthropy and education have been immense and inspiring. Her presence in the Rajya Sabha is a powerful testament to our ‘Nari Shakti’, exemplifying the strength and potential of women in shaping our nation’s destiny. Wishing her a fruitful Parliamentary tenure,”
This may be her professional titles.
But Sudha Murthy is a household name in India, a name synonymous to kindness, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, literature, charity person. Her journey from a modest upbringing to becoming a beacon of inspiration for millions is a testament to her persistence, understanding life and others, and tireless commitment to making a difference. My personal most favorite personality from whom so many men, women, children can learn and enlighten. Lets trace the journey of Sudha Murthy from her childhood to present day and what we get from her struggles.
Sudha Murthy – childhood
Born in Brahmin (Deshastha Madhwa Brahmin) family in shiggaon, Karnataka, Sudha Murthy was born on August 19, 1950. Her Father Dr. R.H.Kulkarni was a surgeon and mother Mrs.Vimala Kulkarni looked after along with her three siblings.
As I always say some children show the signs in their childhood. It was nothing different for Sudha Murthy’s parents. Acoording To Maja Katta Interview, Sudha Murthy said that at the time of choosing her career her father gave her options of becoming a doctor whereas mother suggested of doing Phd in Mathematics, as its good career for a woman for her future, with good opportunities while selecting her future husband and also could get enough holidays to spend time with family. While other relatives in their family said no for engineering as no woman at that time from their community opted for such career side and that she would face difficulties in finding her groom or she might then do love marriage which wasn’t allowed at that time. But Sudha murthy had her clarity to go for engineering as her keen interest was in applied science. They noticed her special and different taste and always supported her for the unconventional choices of career she wanted to pursue. In India becoming engineering was not at all a common thing rather even considered it as a career back then in 1970’s. The engineering was completely male dominated sector.
She graduated in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the B.V.B. College of Engineering & Technology (presently known as KLE Technological University). She completed her post-graduation in Computer Science from the Indian Institute of Science. She has received gold medal from the then chief minister of Karnataka.
Her graduating days were not easy at all. She struggled to get even the basic amenity. As the University had 99.9% of boys there were no availability for women washroom and Sudha Murthy had wait whole day till the college ends. Even the University staff, the head principal and proffesors thought that she would give up her course in two-three months as there were no company for her in the University. On the day of University admission, the principal of the University asked Sudha Murthy’s father to follow three rules which was only for her as she was the only girl in that University.
1. Sudha Murthy should wear saree everyday and no other dress would be allowed.
2. She should not eat in the canteen as there will boys around everytime.
3. And she should not talk with boys and roam around the premises without a reason.
Even with all of the above situation Sudha Murthy that time, just a 16-17yrs old girl, did complete her graduation successfully with the core determination. So if we imagine for any girl with no restroom and other facilities is a complete no for such kind of university. But with strong goal and vision Sudha Murthy did this unconventional and then impossible course at University without a single leave. She always says,”When we look at difficulties , yes, they are hard, but they also teach us many things. For instance, in my case, I realized the importance of toilets as I struggled practically in my college days – and later in my life, I built 14,000 ladies toilet in rural areas in India through my work at Infosys Foundation.”
After securing the degree with first class and while she was on job hunt she found the advertisement of TELCO where engineers were needed but had a small warning that ‘only for men’ which disturbed her and she immediately posted a postcard to TELCO company complaining about the bias on gender and that the company is a big hurdle for country’s growth as they are cutting down the equality and opportunity for women empowerment. As she did not know the proper address then, she just wrote to JRD tata, TELCO company. Even though Murthy wrote the wrong address, but the man was so well known that the postal system got her postcard to him anyway. This letter was read by none other the greatest JRD Tata (Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy) a legend, Indian Aviator, Business magnate and chairman of TATA Group, and he immediately called his team to give a fair chance to the lady and called for the interview. Sudha Murthy qualified the interview securing the first female engineer in India. Her position in Telco was on field Development Engineer and in redefining the company’s job policy.
Sudha Murthy is a wife of tech giant Narayan Murthy and indeed have a story to be inspired. The couple dated for four years before in their college days. The couple was introduced to each other by a common friend Prasanna. Narayan Murthy invited her for the dinner at Green Field Hotel. She was the only girl the group. After deciding to get married Sudha’s father Dr. Kulkarni was somewhat hesitant as Murthy did not earn enough at that time. Narayan Murthy was working as a researcher that time and requested her father to look for a better job. Later her father approved as Murthy started working a general manager at Patni computers towards the end of 1977. The couple tied a knot on February 10, 1978. The whole cost of wedding was Rs.800 which was also split between Sudha Murthy and Narayan Murthy equally.
Sudha murthy being more qualified then Narayan Murthy did not go awkward molding her career to build family. She was working with Telco (India’s largest manufacturing company) Mumbai then and earning a handsome amount. In 1981, when Narayan Murthy came to Sudha Murthy with an idea of starting a software company. Initially when Sudha ji said why to do this adventure when both of us are earning fair enough, spending time and everything is going as a dream. He lectured her how it will be a revolution for Indians in the job sector and that IT is going to be a future and that he want to give it a shot. He requested her to help him in it financially and by taking whole responsibility at back home as he would be digging at company hard.
When IT was a fairly unknown to India, Sudhaji gave the very first capital for now renowned IT company Infosys. Yes, right. She is the very first investor of the company. She invested Rs.10,000/- for Infosys. Sudhaji had the habit as the most of the women has, saving money in grain box or anywhere that no one can find for emergencies. She says, “ I remember thinking, what if I don’t give money to Mr.Murty? Then he may not start it and may regret the whole life. I thought regret is worse than failure. Failure is ok- I tried, I failed. What would we lose? We had nothing to lose. We had 2-3 years in our hands, we could give it a try. If Infosys couldn’t make it we would start again with our regular job life. But I never wanted my husband to regret.” She says even though she had a savings of total Rs.10,250 to be perfect, she gave him only Rs.10,000/- and kept 250 for emergency. And this habit of saving she has always advised to each and every woman. And hence the rest is history with Infosys! Sudhaji always says that, she is the world’s best investor now looking at the valuation of the company!
In 1982, when Narayan Murty started the company, to help him with the setup and work, Sudha murty was getting ready to exit her TELCO job of Mumbai as the Infosys was being started at Pune. As she was heading for the final settlement, she ended up seeing JRD there, “He was coming down the stairs, I was going up. He used to call me by my maiden name.” He said to sudha Murty, “Kulkarni, what are you upto?” Sudha ji replied, “Sir, my husband is starting an adventure called Infosys, I don’t know whether it will be successful or not, so I have to leave my job and shift to Pune.” And he said, “ You fought for your job and now you’re leaving?” That was the first time Sudha ji got to know about that he actually know how she made to the company. She replies to his question, “Sir I have to help him, otherwise I wouldn’t have left.” He said, “Ok, But Kulkarni , why start with the diffidence? Start with confidence.” While walking ahead he again turned back and asked, “Kulkarni what will you do when you are successful and you will make lot of money?” Sudha ji replied, “Sir, I don’t know whether we will make money.” To that he advises with the golden words, “When you make money please remember, that our society is giving you so much, and so you have a duty towards our society too. You don’t own that money, and you are to give it back to people.” Sudha Murty remember this as their last meet and she his words never left her mind. It were JRD’s advice inspired her to form the basis of Infosys Foundation.
Besides helping Narayan Murty ji for foundation of Infosys and leaving her crucial job to look at family, she achieved her own fame as a writer and a philanthrophist. Later in 1996, she also founded a public charitable trust which works children, women and other issues.
Sudha Murty is name synonym to being humble and simplicity. With so much achieved in life but still grounded and having a sense of responsity of giving it back to the country or world. She has inspired not only young minds but also women and couples through her journey. She never holds her story of life and struggles to herself. Through different platforms Sudha Murty and Narayan Murty ji has always been vocal about their journey as she thinks sharing the hard times can encourage people to do the good work.
But with children she opted family and stayed back and let Murthy work full time. It was sheer understanding and pure love on which they survived the hard days.
Interesting facts about Sudha Murthy ji.
- Sudha Murthy always followed her dad’s words , “Walk what you talk.” This is a powerful reminder to live out your values and commitments. It means turning promises into actions, leading by example, and showing that your words are backed by genuine effort. When you walk what you talk, you inspire others, build trust, and prove that you’re a person of integrity who doesn’t just dream but achieves through action.
- Shaping children’s life and looking after them, birthdays, PTA meetings was all looked after by Sudha Murthy alone as Narayan Murthy worked from 6.am to 9.pm. But as he believes in quality over quantity he also made sure that whenever he had free time he used to spend it with children. After coming home tired he used to make sure to take his family out for dinner most of the time balancing it ‘Dad way’!
- During the college time love struck Mr. Narayan Murty used to travel ticketless for 11 hours to meet Sudha Murty.
- Sudha Murty has not purchased a single saree in 30 years.
- Sudha Murty disclosed, that this decision comes from spiritual belief. While a visit to holy place of Kashi, where she chose to make a significant offering and commitment by giving up something dear to her- Saree. Since then she keeps her purchase minimalistic.
FAQs
Why is Sudha Murty so famous?
Sudha Murty is famous ideal figure for her social work, Philanthrophist, author and also the wife of Mr. Narayan Murty, co founder of Infosys. Her son in law Rishi Sunak, is the Prime Minister of UK.
Is Sudha Murty Vegeterian?
Sudha ji has revealed in one of her interviews, “I am a pure vegetarian. (I don’t eat) Not even egg, garlic,I am scared that both vegetarians and non-vegetarians use the same spoon.”
What is the net worth of Sudha Murty?
Her approximate current net worth is nearly 7.75 crores individually.