Sudha Murthy is the chairman of Infosys Foundation, a non-profit organization. He is a famous Indian author.
Wiki/Biography
Sudha was born on Saturday, 19 August 1950 (age 72 years; in 2022), in Shiggaon, Karnataka. His zodiac sign is Leo. He got his BE in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from BVB College of Engineering and Technology, Karnataka and stood first in his class and for that, he received a gold medal from the then Chief Minister of Karnataka, Devaraj Urs. Later, he joined the Indian Institute of Science, Karnataka to complete his ME in Computer Science. He again ranked first in his class and received a gold medal.
Physical appearance
Height (approx): 5′ 2″
Hair Color: Salt & Pepper
Eye Color: Black
Family, Caste & Husband
He was born in a Brahmin Hindu Family. His father, Dr RH Kulkarni used to work as a surgeon. His mother’s name is Vimala Kulkarni. Sudha has one brother and two sisters. His elder brother Shrinivas Kulkarni, is a renowned astronomer who received the Dan David Prize in 2017. His elder sister, Sunanda Kulkarni is a gynecologist at a government hospital in Bangalore. His sister, Jaishree Deshpande is the founder of the ‘Deshpande Foundation’ and is the wife of Gururaj Deshpande, the co-founder of Chelmsford.
Sudha Murthy with her Parents and Siblings
He started his first job at TELCO, where he met NR Narayana Murthy through one of his friends, Prasanna. In an interview, while sharing his initial meeting with Narayana, he said,
Most of the books Prasanna lent me had Murthy’s name on them which meant I had a preconceived image of the man. Contrary to expectations, Murthy is shy, bespectacled and an introvert. When he invited us to dinner, I was a little surprised because I thought the young man made a very quick move. I refused because I was the only girl in the group. But Murthy was relentless and we all decided to meet for dinner the next day at 7.30 pm at Green Fields hotel on Main Street, Pune.”
Sudha used to hang out with Murthy in parties, movies and restaurants. Soon, the two began to develop a fondness for each other, and one day, Narayana proposed to her. Initially, Sudha’s father was against their marriage as Murthy was not well paid. Later, Murthy quit his job and started working as a general manager at Patni computers in Bombay. Sudha’s father is happy with Murthy’s new job and agrees to their marriage.
Sudha and Murthy got married on 10 February 1978 at Murthy’s house. The expenditure for the wedding is only Rs. 800, which Sudha and Murthy shared. In 1980, the couple was blessed with a baby girl, Akshata Murty, and in 1983, they were blessed with a baby boy, Rohan Murty.
Sudha Murthy and NR Narayana Murthy Wedding Photos
Sudha Murthy with her Family
On 25 October 2022, his son-in-law, Rishi Sunak, was appointed as the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom by King Charles III.
Career
Sudha started her career as a development engineer with TELCO in Pune. In February 1974, she came across a TELCO vacancy advertisement but the footnote read: “female candidates need not apply.” She was hurt by such gender discrimination in a big company like TELCO, so, she decided to write a postcard to JRD Tata (then chairman of TELCO). In an interview, when he was asked how he got his first job, he said,
After sending the postcard I forgot about it. A pleasant surprise awaits. A telegram soon arrived asking to appear for an interview with the promise of reimbursement of first-class fares both ways.”
In 1981, Sudha’s husband, NR Narayana Murthy, decided to shift to Pune to start his own company Infosys. Sudha had to leave her job at TELCO, Mumbai. In an interview, he shared an incident when he was about to quit his job at TELCO, he said,
It was again a chance meeting as I was downstairs and JRD Tata was upstairs at Bombay House. “I told him I was quitting my job.” He said, “You fought for the job and now you quit?” I told him that my husband wants to start Infosys Adventure. And then JRD was almost prophetic to say, “If you make a lot of money, you must give it back to society because you have received so much love from it.” That was the last time I saw him.”
She left her job and moved to Pune with her husband and joined ‘Walchand Industries group’ as a senior systems analyst. Later, in 1996, Sudha co-founded the ‘Infosys Foundation,’ a non-profit organization with the aim of helping the underprivileged sections of society. The NPO is working with the mission to provide assistance in education, rural development, health care, arts and culture, and poor care. The Infosys Foundation has one of its branches in the United States, with the goal of supporting science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and community startups.
Sudha’s ‘Infosys Foundation’ has built more than 2300 houses in flood affected areas and more than 70,000 libraries for schools in India. They have helped in building over 10,000 toilets in rural areas of Bengaluru. They have helped people affected by natural calamities such as tsunamis in Tamil Nadu and Andaman, earthquakes in Kutch, cyclones and floods in Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and droughts in Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Apart from being a philanthropist, he has worked as a visiting professor at Bangalore University’s PG Center and has also taught at Christ University, Bengaluru. He is one of the famous authors of India. He has written many famous books in English and Kannada including Samanyaralli Asamanyaru, Guttondu Heluve, Hakkiya Teradalli, Sukeshini Mattu Itara Makkala Kathegalu, How I Taught My Grandmother to Read, The Accolades Galore, Dollar Bahu, and Three thousand stitches.
Sudha Murthy at her Book Launch Event
Controversy
The registration license of his NGO Infosys Foundation was revoked in 2019 by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs. His NGO had failed to provide income and expenditure statements for foreign funding for the previous several years and for violating norms its registration was cancelled.
Awards & Honors
Karnataka Rajyotsava, State Award
2000: For achievements in literature and social work
Ojaswini Award
2001: For outstanding social work in 2000
Raja-Lakshmi Award
2004: For Social Work By Sri Raja-Lakshmi Foundation in Chennai
Sudha Murthy Receives Raj Laxmi Award
RK Narayana Award
2006: For Literature
Padma Award
2006: For Social Work
Sudha Murthy Receives Padma Shri
2023: Padma Bhushan
Attimabbe Award from Government of Karnataka
2011: For excellence in Kannada Literature
Crossword Book Award-Raymond
2018: Lifetime Achievement
IIT Kanpur Award
2019: Honorary Degree, Doctor of Science
Note: He has many more accolades to his name.
Address
Neralu, #1/2 (1878), 11th Main, 39th Cross, 4th T Block, Jayanagar, Bangalore 560011, Karnataka
Net worth
In 2004, his estimated net worth was Rs 7.75 billion (approx).
Favourite
- Film(s): Naya Daur (1957), Gunga Jumna (1961), Devdas (1955), Mughal-E-Azam (1960), Kohinoor (1960), Junglee (1961), Anand (1971), Kati Patang (1971) ). ), Amar Prem (1972), and Abhimaan (1973)
- Songs: Dil Tadap Tadap and Suhana Safar from Madhumati (1958), Mere Mehboob Tujhe from Mere Mehboob (1963)
- Businessmen: Ratan Tata and JRD Tata
Facts/Trivia
- Sudha was the only female student in the class of 600 students. The principal of the college had accepted it with three conditions. He asks Sudha to always wear a saree, not to visit the canteen, and not to talk to boys in the college.
- In the late 60s, he used to sport a bob haircut and used to wear jeans t-shirts which became a scandal at the time.
Old Pictures of Sudha Murthy
- His hobbies include reading books, traveling and watching movies. In 2014, in an interview with Filmfare, he said,
I have 500 DVDs that I watch in my home theater. I look at the film as a whole – the direction, the editing… all aspects.” People know me as a social worker, as an author… but no one knows me as a movie buff. That is why I am happy to do this interview with Filmfare. The cineaste, who has watched 365 films in 365 days admitted, “I could actually be a film journalist. I never get bored of movies!”
- Sudha gave Rs. 10,000 to her husband to start his own company Infosys, In an interview, she shared this incident,
Typical Murthy, he only dreams and has no money. So I gave him Rs 10,000 that I had saved for a rainy day, without his knowledge and told him, this is all I have. Take this. I’m giving you a three-year sabbatical. I will manage the financial needs of our home. You go and chase your dreams without any worries. But you only have three years!”
- He never joined Infosys even though he was qualified and experienced. He revealed the reason behind this in an interview,
Murty said he did not want a husband-wife team at Infosys. I was surprised because I have relevant experience and technical qualifications. He says, Sudha if you want to work with Infosys, I will withdraw, with pleasure. It saddens me to know that I will not be involved in the company that my husband built and that I have to give up a job that I am qualified to do and love to do. It took me a few days to understand the reason behind Murty’s request. I realized that to make Infosys a success one has to give 100 percent to oneself. One has to concentrate on it alone without other distractions.”
- Interestingly, there are two pictures hanging on one of the walls of his NGO, one of his first employer, JRD Tata and the other of Jamsetji (a plaque given to him by the Dalai Lama).
- In his book ‘Three Thousand Stitches’ he shares an incident when a woman at Heathrow Airport called him ‘cow class’ for wearing a salwar kameez.
- She appeared in the ETV Kannada TV series ‘Preethi Illada Mele’ (2006), and later, in 2017, she did a cameo in the Kannada film ‘Uppu, Huli, Khara.’
- In 2019, he resigned as a member of the Tirupati Temple Board.
- On 29 November 2019, she appeared in an episode of Karamveer KBC 11. As a sign of respect, Amitabh Bachchan touched her feet and welcomed her on the show. Sudha presents him with a sheet made by the devadasis.
Sudha Murthy in KBC
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
