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Sudha Murthy is one of those rare women whose life story continues to inspire millions. A writer, philanthropist, and entrepreneur, she has made an indelible mark on Indian society through her contributions in various fields. Known for her prolific writing, advocacy for education for underprivileged children, and her pivotal role in the success of Infosys, India’s leading IT company, Sudha Murthy’s work transcends borders. Dressed simply in traditional Indian attire, her philanthropic efforts have earned her global recognition and respect.
From becoming India’s first female engineer to making a mark at Infosys, Sudha Murthy’s relentless commitment to social change and education has played a significant role in shaping her journey. Let’s delve into Sudha Murthy’s educational background and her extraordinary achievements.
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Early Life of Sudha Murthy
Sudha Murthy, a name that resonates with millions across the globe, is known for her remarkable achievements in the fields of social work, literature, and business. From humble beginnings to becoming a prominent philanthropist and an influential figure in Indian society, Sudha Murthy’s life is a testament to resilience, compassion, and determination. Here are a few important details about Sudha Murthy and her early life:
- On 19 August 1950, Sudha Murthy was born in a Brahmin family in Shiggaon, Karnataka.
- Her father Dr R.H. Kulkarni who was a surgeon and her mother Vimala Kulkarni supported her in her endeavours right from her childhood and raised young Sudha along with her three siblings.
- With constant support from her family in childhood, Sudha Murthy went on to pursue unconventional career choices which were not popular among girls.
- An educated atmosphere in the family instilled in her a passion to do something extraordinary at an early age.
- Sudha Murthy’s brother Srinivas Kulkarni is a renowned astronomer who received the Dan David Prize in 2017.
- Her early life experiences and affinity for her grandmother became the foundation for some of her books.
- Sudha Murthy’s childhood is often characterized by simplicity and a fire to learn.
- Due to her love for literature, she was often found immersed in literature.
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Education of Sudha Murthy
Sudha Murthy’s education has a major role to play in shaping her as a successful author, even though her educational path was more technical. Her hard work and commitment are clear from the fact that she emerged as a topper during her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Sudha Murthy completed her BE in Electrical Engineering from B.V.B College of Engineering, Hubli, where she won a gold medal for her exceptional academic performance. Later on, she considered the option for higher studies and went to pursue her ME in Computer Science in 1974 from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and later received a gold medal from the then Karnataka chief minister for topping both the final exams.
Career of Sudha Murthy
The following table highlights key aspects of her career and the lasting impact she has had on education, literature, and social development.
| Aspect | Details |
| Early Career | Sudha Murthy advocated for women’s rights and challenged Tata Motors (Telco) on their men-only policy, leading to her becoming the first female engineer in India at Telco. |
| Contributions to Infosys | Supported her husband Narayana Murthy in establishing Infosys and provided initial investment. |
| Literary Contributions | Authored a vast collection of literature, including books for children, encouraging both young and old to develop a reading habit. |
| Education and Social Contributions | Sudha Murthy has worked tirelessly for the improvement of society, focusing on education, public hygiene, and poverty alleviation through her Infosys Foundation. |
| Academic Roles | She has been a visiting professor at Bangalore University and has taught at Christ University. |
| Role in Gates Foundation | Actively involved with the Gates Foundation in various initiatives. |
| Revolutionizing Education | Supported the use of Computer Technology in educational institutions in Karnataka and worked towards the improvement in Education System of India |
| Murty Classical Library of India | Established the Murty Classical Library of India (MCLI) at Harvard to promote Indian literature. |
Major Achievements by Sudha Murthy
Sudha Murthy’s education and her work in various domains have led her to win many awards. She has received numerous awards for her academic excellence. In the year 2019, IIT Kanpur awarded her an Honorary Doctor of Science (DSc) degree. Her achievements include a list of literary works in many languages. Initially, she started to write in Kannada and later wrote in English as well. They’re all about family, marriage, social problems, etc. She has received several awards and distinctions for her achievements, including the R.K. The Narayan Award for literature.
Sudha Murthy Awards and Accolades
In her long career, Sudha Murthy has learned a lot. Let’s look at them one by one:
- India’s fourth-highest civilian honour Padma Shri in 2006
- Gold medal from Indian Institute of Engineers, India
- Cash award for securing highest marks in SSLC
- Gold medal from Chief Minister of Karnataka Sri Devaraj Urs, for securing the highest marks in B.E in the state
- CS Desai Prize for standing first at University of Karnataka
- Best Teacher Award in 1995 by Rotary Club of Karnataka
- ‘Ojaswini’ Award for excellent social work for the year 2000
- ‘Millenium Mahila Shiromani’ award
- R.K. Narayan’s Award for Literature
- Honorary LLD for her contribution to promoting formal legal education and scholarship in India
- Life Time Achievement Award at the Crossword-Raymond Book Awards
- “Hemmeya-Kannadiga” award from television
- IIT Kanpur awarded her an Honorary degree of Doctor of Science
Sudha Murthy is also the chairperson and trustee of the Infosys Foundation. With her master’s in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, she started Infosys Foundation in 1996.
- She has built 2300 houses in flood-affected areas through the foundation.
- She also covers public hygiene, healthcare, education, art and culture, and poverty alleviation.
- She has built 7000 libraries in schools and 16,000 toilets.
- In the year 1996, Sudha Murthy established a Public Charitable Trust.
- So far, the Trust has managed to build around 2,300 houses for people in need in numerous flood-affected areas.
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Best Books Written by Sudha Murthy
Sudha Murthy is a renowned author who writes primarily in English and Kannada language. Some of Sudha Murthy’s widely acclaimed books include The Mother I Never Knew, Three Thousand Stitches, The Man from the Egg, and Magic of the Lost Temple. In 2018, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2019, she was conferred with the Padma Shri which is the highest civilian honour in India. With this compilation, here is a collection of 15 of the best Sudha Murty Books out of the many she’s written.
Kannada Books by Sudha Murthy
- Kaveri inda Mekaangige
- Tumla
- Runa
- Yashasvi
- Nooniya Sahasagalu
- Dollar Sose
- Guttondu Heluve
- Guttondu Heluve
- Athirikthe
- Hakkiya Teradalli
- Paridhi
- Yerilitada Daariyalli
- Compuer lokadalli
- Sukhesini Mattu Itara Makkala Kathegalu
- Samanyralli Asamanyaru
- Astitva
- Mahashweta
English Books Written by Sudha Murthy
- The Mother I Never Knew
- Here, There, Everywhere
- Magic of the Lost Temple
- The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk
- The Upside Down King
- The Man from the Egg
- The Magic Drum and other favorite stories
- Wise and Otherwise
- Something Happened on the Way To Heavens
- Gently Falls The Bakula
- House of Cards
- The Daughter From A Wishing Tree
- The Old Man And His God
- How The Sea Became Salty
- The magic of the lost temple
- The Bird with the Golden Wings
- How I Taught My Grandmother to Read and other stories
- Grandparents Bag of Stories
- Dollar Bahu
- Three Thousand Stitches
- The daughter from a wishing tree
- The Serpent’s Revenge
- Grandma’s Bag of Stories 1
Quotes by Sudha Murthy
Apart from being a remarkable author, Sudha Murthy is also renowned for her quotes.
¨Life is an exam where the syllabus is unknown and question papers are not set. Nor are there model answer papers.¨
¨Usually, people who are sensitive need more time to understand the real world.¨
¨Money is one thing that rarely unites and mostly divides people.¨
¨Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision is merely passing time. But vision and action together can change the world.¨
“A fire cannot be extinguished with another fire. It is only water that can make a difference.”
Also Read: Know the World’s Youngest Leaders!
FAQs
Ans: Many people are unaware of one of Sudha Murthy’s fascinating facts, which is that she made her acting debut in the Marathi film Pitruroon, which is based on her Kannada novel Rhun.
Ans: According to Sudha Murthy, money always exchanges hands and helping the community greatly increases goodwill. Her strong involvement in social work for women’s empowerment, education, public health, and public hygiene is a testament to her high moral standards.
Ans: Infosys Chairman N R Narayana Murthy is the husband of Sudha Murthy.
Ans: Sudha Murthy is an Indian author, social worker, and the chairperson of Infosys Foundation. She is widely known for her philanthropic efforts, inspiring writings, and her role in promoting education and healthcare in rural India.
Ans: Sudha Murthy’s biography highlights her remarkable journey from a humble background to becoming a renowned author and philanthropist. Born in 1950 in Shiggaon, Karnataka, she pursued engineering and later became involved in social causes, particularly through the Infosys Foundation.
Ans: 10 lines about Sudha Murthy are:
1. Sudha Murthy was born on August 19, 1950, in Shiggaon, Karnataka.
1. She is an accomplished author in both English and Kannada.
2. She is known for her philanthropic work, especially through the Infosys Foundation.
4. She holds a degree in Computer Science and Engineering.
5. She married Narayana Murthy, the co-founder of Infosys, in 1978.
6. Sudha Murthy is known for her simple and insightful writing style.
7. She has authored several books, including “Wise and Otherwise” and “The Old Man and His God.”
8. She has donated generously to causes such as education, healthcare, and rural development.
9. Sudha Murthy’s life is a blend of personal success and deep commitment to social causes.
10. Sudha Murthy was the first woman engineer at TATA Engineering and Locomotive Co. Ltd.
Ans: Sudha Murthy’s life story is a testament to resilience and compassion. From her childhood in rural Karnataka, she pursued higher education despite challenges. She became the first female engineer at TATA Engineering, worked in Infosys, and later became deeply involved in philanthropic efforts, focusing on rural education, health, and community development.
Ans: Sudha Murthy completed her Bachelors in Engineering from the B.V.B. College of Engineering & Technology in Hubli, Karnataka. She later earned a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore.
Ans: Sudha Murthy’s childhood was marked by both challenges and inspiration. Growing up in a small town, she was deeply influenced by her father’s values of helping others and her mother’s encouragement for education. Despite limited resources, she excelled in her studies and dreamed of a career in engineering.
Ans: Some of the key milestones in Sudha Murthy’s life include:
Becoming the first female engineer at TATA Engineering in 1974.
Marrying Narayana Murthy, Infosys’ co-founder.
Establishing the Infosys Foundation, which focuses on education, healthcare, and rural development.
Writing multiple best-selling books that inspire readers worldwide.
Ans: Sudha Murthy has contributed significantly to society through her philanthropy. The Infosys Foundation, under her leadership, has funded numerous projects related to education, healthcare, rural development, and poverty alleviation. She is also a strong advocate for women’s empowerment.
Ans: Sudha Murthy is a prolific writer who has authored numerous books, including novels, short stories, and children’s books. Her notable works include “Wise and Otherwise,” “The Old Man and His God,” and “Three Thousand Stitches.” Her writing is known for its simplicity, wisdom, and empathy.
Related Reads
The education of Sudha Murthy and her ideology to lead society towards a better future has inspired many to take philanthropy as a way of living.
Personalities like her inspire us to believe in dreams and working hard towards achieving them. If you have a dream of studying abroad, Leverage Edu can help you realize it. From applying at a university to getting a visa done, our experts will help you with all of it.
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Nice and thanks
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Hey Kashish!
Thank you for your comment. If you liked this blog then check out our latest series called Her Purpose where we are covering stories of inspiring women around the world!
https://leverageedu.com/blog/category/her-purpose/
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Very inspiring unbelievable, very fortunate to know about this, no words to express my feelings
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Thank you for the comment!
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7 comments
Nice and thanks
Hey Kashish!
Thank you for your comment. If you liked this blog then check out our latest series called Her Purpose where we are covering stories of inspiring women around the world!
https://leverageedu.com/blog/category/her-purpose/
Very inspiring unbelievable, very fortunate to know about this, no words to express my feelings
Thank you for the comment!
😙👍👌
thank you for great explantion it’s very helpful to me.
Such an inspiring person.would love to join her foundation.