Sudha Murty, an author and philanthropist has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was announced on March 8 via X (formerly Twitter).
On her nomination to Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Modi expressed her delight in accentuating the momentous role it plays in showcasing ‘Nari Shakti’ or Women Power. Sudha Murty’s nomination also overlaps with the celebration of International Women’s Day.
“I am delighted that the President of India has nominated Sudha Murty 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,” stated the Prime Minister in his post.
The President of India nominates 12 members to the Upper House of Parliament for their outstanding contributions to arts, literature, sciences, and social services.
“It’s a big Women’s Day gift to me. It’s a new responsibility to work for the country,” said Murty reacting to her nomination. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also congratulated Sudha Murty on her new role.
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Sudha Murty’s Profile
Sudha Murty, 73, is a renowned philanthropist, author, and former chairperson of the Infosys Foundation. Her husband, Narayana Murthy, founded the IT giant Infosys, while UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is her son-in-law.
Murty was born in Shiggaon, Haveri District, North Karnataka, and graduated in engineering from BVB College of Engineering. She earned a gold medal from the Institute of Engineers for securing the first rank across all branches. Later, she pursued her ME with distinction from the Indian Institute of Science.
Embarking on her career as an engineer with TELCO (now Tata Motors), Murty today serves as the chairperson of Infosys Foundation.
Murty is also a writer in English and Kannada. She has written 30 books and over 200 titles, including novels, non-fiction, children’s books, travelogues, technical books, and memoirs. Her works have been among the best-sellers and have also been translated into major Indian languages, selling over 26 lakh copies across the country.
But her achievements don’t end here. She is a well-known philanthropist for her advocacy of social causes and has traveled 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.
Murty was awarded the Padma Shri in 2006 and the Padma Bhushan in 2023 for her social work by the Government of India, making her one of the recipients of the highest civilian honours.
Now coming to 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.
Sudha Murty’s Family
Murty counts among her famous family members, her husband and Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, and son-in-law and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Billionaire Narayana Murthy has a career spanning decades known for his management techniques and eagerness to share knowledge with the youth.
Not born into a very rich family, Murthy enrolled in the National Institute of Engineering after his schooling and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1967. Later in 1969, he got his Masters degree from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur.
He married Sudha Murty in 1978 and has two children Akshata Murthy and Rohan Murthy.
Rishi Sunak, Murty’s son-in-law is an Oxford and Stanford University alumni. Sunak spent three years at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and later gained an MBA from Stanford in California, where he met his wife Akshata Murthy. He married Akshata in 2009 and the couple has two daughters, Krishna and Anoushka.
Sunak was educated at one of England’s most renowned schools, Winchester, and then Oxford.
Sunak’s change in fate was triggered by the resignation of Truss after her high-profile sacking and resignation in her cabinet, following a heavily criticized mini-budget that left the UK pound tumbling.
Rishi Sunak and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, following Truss’s short stint as British prime minister, were seen as frontrunners for the UK PM bid. UK High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis termed the appointment of the first Hindu Prime Minister to the UK, Rishi Sunak, a “historic moment.”
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