Sudha Murty: Difference between revisions

{{short description|Indian writer, philanthropist, author (born 1950)}}

{{Merge to|Infosys Foundation|discuss=Talk:Infosys Foundation#Proposed merge of Sudha Murty into Infosys Foundation|date=November 2021}}

| name         = Sudha Murty

| image         = Sudha Murthy.jpg

| caption       =  

| image_size   =  

| birth_name   = Sudha Kulkarni

| birth_date   = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1950|08|19}}

| birth_place   = [[Shiggaon]], [[Mysore State]] (present day [[Karnataka]]), India

| alma_mater   = {{Unbulleted_list|[[New York University]]|[[B.V.B. College of Engineering and Technology]]|[[Indian Institute of Science]]}}

| occupation   = Chairperson of [[Infosys Foundation]]

| spouse       = [[N. R. Narayana Murthy]]

| children     = [[Rohan Murthy and Akshata Murthy]]

| relatives     = [[Rishi Sunak]] (son-in-law), [[Aparna Krishnan, Lakshmi Venu]] (daughter-in-law), [[Krishna Sunak]] (Daughter of Akshara), [[Anoushka Sunak]] (Daughter of Akshara)

| awards        = [[Padma Shri]]

| notable_works = {{Unbulleted_list|''[[How I Taught My Grandmother to Read]]''|''[[Mahashweta]]''|''[[Dollar Bahu]]''}}

'''Sudha Murty''' (''née'' '''Kulkarni''') ([[Kannada language|Kannada]] : ಸುಧಾ ಮೂರ್ತಿ) (born 19 August 1950) is an Indian engineering teacher, author and a social worker. She is also the chairperson of the [[Infosys Foundation]]. She is married to the co-founder of [[Infosys]], [[N. R. Narayana Murthy]]. Murty was awarded the [[Padma Shri]], the fourth highest civilian award in India, for social work by the [[Government of India]] in 2006.

Sudha Murty began her professional career in computer science and engineering. She is the chairperson of the [[Infosys Foundation]] and a member of the public health care initiatives of the [[Gates Foundation]].<ref>[http://www.tata.com/company/Media/inside.aspx?artid=v1rSpAy0c20= Ratan Tata, Rahul Dravid on Gates Foundation board] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522221452/http://tata.com/company/Media/inside.aspx?artid=v1rSpAy0c20= |date=22 May 2013 }}. tata.com (15 July 2003). Retrieved on 8 December 2011.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20031231111353/http://www.hindu.com/2003/12/06/stories/2003120609520800.htm Gates Foundation's AIDS initiative launched]. ''The Hindu'' (6 December 2003). Retrieved on 8 December 2011.</ref> She has founded several orphanages, participated in rural development efforts, supported the movement to provide all [[Karnataka]] government schools with computer and library facilities, and established [[Murty Classical Library of India]] at [[Harvard University]].<ref>[http://www.business-standard.com/women/news/sudha-murthy-humility-personified/123253/on Sudha Murthy: Humility personified]. Business-standard.com (23 January 2011). Retrieved on 8 December 2011.</ref><ref>Vinita Chaturvedi (18 October 2011) [https://web.archive.org/web/20131202231103/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-18/news-interviews/30296207_1_sudha-murthy-narayan-murthy-drama-festival I'm enjoying my acting stint: Sudha Murthy]. ''Times of India''.</ref><ref>[http://www.murtylibrary.com/ Home | The Murthy Classical Library of India]. Murtylibrary.com. Retrieved on 31 August 2013.</ref> Murty initiated a bold move to introduce computer and library facilities in all schools in Karnataka & taught [[computer science]]. She got the "Best Teacher Award" in 1995 from Rotary Club at Bangalore.

 

Murty is best known for her social work and her contribution to literature in Kannada and English. ''Dollar Bahu'' (English: ''Dollar Daughter-in-Law''), a novel originally authored by her in [[Kannada language|Kannada]] and later translated into English as ''Dollar Bahu,'' was adapted as a [[Dollar Bahu|televised dramatic series]] by [[Zee TV]] in 2001.<ref>Arshiya Kapadia (30 September 2001) [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010930/spectrum/main5.htm The million-dollar name behind Dollar Bahu]. Tribuneindia.com. Retrieved on 8 December 2011.</ref> Sudha Murthy has also acted in the Marathi film ''Pitruroon'' and the Kannada film ''Prarthana''. She has also appeared in ''[[Kaun Banega Crorepati]]'' season 11 in its finale week episode "Karamveer".

Sudha Murty was born into a [[Kannada people]] [[Madhva brahmins]] family<ref>{{Cite web|last=Murthy|first=Sudha|title="A woman's place is in the kitchen": My experience as the only girl in engineering school in 1968|url=https://qz.com/india/1038178/sudha-murthy-wife-of-infosys-founder-nr-narayana-murthy-recalls-being-only-girl-in-her-engineering-college/|access-date=2021-12-22|website=Quartz|language=en}}</ref> on 19 August 1950 in [[Shiggaon]], [[Haveri]] in [[Karnataka]], India, the daughter of surgeon Dr. R. H. Kulkarni and his wife Vimala Kulkarni. She was raised by her parents and maternal grandparents. These childhood experiences form the historical basis for her first notable work entitled ''How I Taught My Grandmother to Read, [[Wise & Otherwise|Wise and Otherwise and Other Stories]]''.<ref name="charityfocus1">[http://nipun.charityfocus.org/inspire/infosys.html About Mrs. Narayan Murthy]. Nipun.charityfocus.org (10 February 1978). Retrieved on 8 December 2011.</ref> Murthy completed a B.Eng. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the [[B.V.B. College of Engineering & Technology]] (now known as [[KLE Technological University]]), standing first in her class and receiving a gold medal from then [[Chief Minister of Karnataka]]. Murty completed M.Eng. in Computer Science from the [[Indian Institute of Science]], standing first in her class and receiving a gold medal from the Indian Institute of Engineers.<ref>[http://living.oneindia.in/cosmopolitan/cosmo-life/2011/sudha-murthy-the-woman-behind-170811.html Sudha Murty | The Woman Behind | Narayan Murthy Wife] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120715043611/http://living.oneindia.in/cosmopolitan/cosmo-life/2011/sudha-Murthy-the-woman-behind-170811.html |date=15 July 2012 }}. Living.Oneindia. in (17 August 2011). Retrieved on 8 December 2011.</ref>

Sudha Murty became the first female engineer hired at India's largest auto manufacturer [[TATA Engineering and Locomotive Company]] (TELCO). She joined the company as a Development Engineer in Pune and then worked in Mumbai & Jamshedpur as well. She had written a postcard to the company's Chairman complaining of the "men only" gender bias at TELCO. As a result, she was granted a special interview and hired immediately. She later joined [Walchand Group] of Industries at Pune as Senior Systems Analyst.

In 1996, she started [[Infosys Foundation]] & to date has been the Trustee of Infosys Foundation and a Visiting Professor at the PG Center of [[Bangalore University]]. She also taught at [[Christ University]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Presenting Harmony's silvers – sparkling lives, success stories, accounts of endurance, courage, grit, and passion|url=http://www.harmonyindia.org/hportal/VirtualPageView.jsp?page_id=501|website=harmonyindia.org|access-date=2 December 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924025313/http://www.harmonyindia.org/hportal/VirtualPageView.jsp?page_id=501|archive-date=24 September 2015}}</ref> She has written and published many books, of which two are travelogues, two technical books, six novels, and three educative books.

Two institutions of higher learning, the H.R. Kadim Diwan Building housing the Computer Science & Engineering (CSE) department at [[IIT Kanpur]]<ref>[http://www.iitk.ac.in/drpg/cssee.htm New CSE Building, IIT Kanpur] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202212828/http://www.iitk.ac.in/drpg/cssee.htm |date=2 February 2010 }}. Iitk.ac.in. Retrieved on 8 December 2011.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131212083810/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-01-04/lucknow/27138741_1_narayan-murthy-air-connectivity-infosys-chairman Infosys chief Narayan Murthy rejects govt offer ]. Times of India (4 January 2002). Retrieved on 8 December 2011.</ref> and the Narayan Rao Melgiri Memorial National Law Library at [[NLSIU]],<ref name="hindu2005">[https://web.archive.org/web/20071212220123/http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/29/stories/2005082908390500.htm Karnataka / Bangalore News : Director thanks Dharam Singh]. The Hindu (29 August 2005). Retrieved on 8 December 2011.</ref> were both endowed and inaugurated by the [[Infosys Foundation]].

Sudha Murty married [[N. R. Narayana Murthy]] while employed as an engineer at TELCO in Pune.<ref>[http://www.tata.com/article/inside/aIWX4x9jXOU=/TLYVr3YPkMU= JRD's words inspired me in philanthropy: Sudha Murthy] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522222152/http://tata.com/company/Media/inside.aspx?artid=aIWX4x9jXOU=|date=22 May 2013}}. tata.com (23 October 2002). Retrieved on 8 December 2011.</ref> The couple have two children, Akshata and [[Rohan Murthy|Rohan]]. Her daughter Akshata married [[Rishi Sunak]], her classmate from Stanford. In 2020, Sunak became [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] of the United Kingdom.<ref name="karnataka.com">Raggi Mudde (1 October 2007) [http://www.karnataka.com/personalities/sudha-murty/ The Philanthropist and Infoscion – Sudha Murty]. Karnataka.com. Retrieved on 31 May 2013.</ref>

 

Murty describes herself as "a movie buff".<ref>Farhana Farook (6 January 2014) [http://www.filmfare.com/interviews/i-watched-365-films-in-one-year-sudha-murthy-5083.html "I watched 365 films in one year" – Sudha Murthy]. filmfare.com.Retrieved on 30May2014.</ref>

In an installation ceremony of chairpersons of Ficci Ladies Organisation (FLO), Murty said her life was changed by advice she got from [[J. R. D. Tata|J.R.D.Tata]] when she left her job to assist her husband Narayana Murthy to start up the company Infosys. He told her to remember that no-one is the owner of money. "You are only trustee of money and it always changes hands. When you are successful, give it back to society that gave you so much goodwill".<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/women-should-believe-in-themselves-sudha-murthy/article2234665.ece Women should believe in themselves: Sudha Murthy]. ''The Hindu''.  17 July 2011</ref> Murty gave 10000 rupees to start Infosys.

 

[[File: Sudha murthy.jpg|thumb|250px|Sudha Murty at the Infosys Foundation]]

Murty's [[Infosys Foundation]] is a public charitable trust founded in 1996 and Murthy is one of the trustees. Through Foundation she has built 2,300 houses in the flood-affected areas. Murty's social work covers the [[Health care|healthcare]], [[education]], empowerment of women, public hygiene, art and culture, and poverty alleviation at the grassroots level.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/infosys-foundation-to-build-houses-in-flood-hit-kodagu-district-118101000952_1.html|title=Infosys Foundation to build houses in flood-hit Kodagu district|newspaper=Business Standard India|date=10 October 2018}}</ref> Her vision of a library for each school has resulted in the setting up of 70,000 libraries so far. She is helping out rural areas by building 16,000 public toilets and several hundred toilets in the city of [[Bangalore|Bengaluru]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/interviews/on-sanitation-and-heritage-restoration-sudha-murty-infosys-foundation/articleshow/57807577.cms|title=On sanitation and heritage restoration: Sudha Murty, Infosys Foundation}}</ref> The foundation has conducted relief work during national natural disasters like the tsunami in Tamil Nadu and Andaman, earthquake in Kutch – Gujarat, hurricane and floods in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and drought in Karnataka and Maharashtra.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/infosys-foundation-to-build-houses-in-flood-hit-kodagu-district-118101000952_1.html|title=Infosys Foundation to build houses in flood-hit Kodagu district|newspaper=Business Standard India|date=10 October 2018}}</ref> The Government of Karnataka awarded her the prestigious literary award, the 'Attimabbe Award' –for her literary work for the year 2011–12.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.karnataka.gov.in/page/Awards/State+Awards/Daana+Chintamani+Attimabbe+Awards/en|title=Daana Chintamani Attimabbe Awards}}</ref>

*National Award from Public Relation Society of India for outstanding Social Service to the Society

*Award for Excellent Social Service by Rotary South – Hubli

*2000: 'Karnataka Rajyotsava' State Award for the year 2000, for achievement in the field of literature and social work

*2001: 'Ojaswini' award for excellent social work for the year 2000

*2004 [[Raja-Lakshmi Award]] by [[Sri Raja-Lakshmi Foundation]] in Chennai

*2006: She also received the R.K. Narayana's Award for Literature.

*2010: [[Daana Chintamani Attimabbe Award]] by [[Karnataka Government]].<ref name="ATTIMABBE">{{Cite web|title=Daana Chintamani Attimabbe Awards|url=https://karnataka.gov.in/page/Awards/State+Awards/Daana+Chintamani+Attimabbe+Awards/en|access-date=5 Nov 2020|website=Department of Kannada and Culture Official website of Government of Karnataka}}</ref>

*2011: Murthy was conferred honorary LL.D (Doctor of Laws) degrees for their contributions to promote formal legal education and scholarship in India.<ref>[http://www.deccanherald.com/content/55619/santosh-hegde-sudha-murthy-conferred.html Santosh Hegde, Sudha Murthy to be conferred honorary doctorate]. Deccanherald.com. 1 March 2010.</ref>

*2013: Basava Shree-2013 Award was presented to Narayan Murthy & Sudha Murthy for their contributions to society at Basaveshwara Medical College auditorium. Basava Shree award comprises a plaque and a cheque of `5 lakh, Sudha Murthy handed over award money to an orphanage run by the mutt.<ref>[http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/Narayana-Murthy-Sudha-Receive-Basava-Shree-Award/2014/02/03/article2035166.ece Narayana Murthy, Sudha Receive Basava Shree Award]. newindianexpress.com. 3 February 2014.</ref>

*2018: Murthy received the Life Time Achievement Award at the Crossword-Raymond Book Awards.

*2019: Sudha Murthy received "Hemmeya-Kannadiga" award from television.

; Kannada

 

*''[[Mahashweta]]''

;English

*''The Daughter From A Wishing Tree''

 

{{Authority control}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Social Work}}

[[Category:1950 births]]