Sudha Murthy Biography: Life, Books and Achievements

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. She is known for her prolific writing, advocacy for education for underprivileged children, and her pivotal role in the success of Infosys.

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 inspirational biography and her extraordinary achievements.

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, her 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, she 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.
• Her 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.
• Her childhood is often characterised by simplicity and a fire to learn.
• Due to her love for literature, she was often found immersed in literature.

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 of the Education System of India
Murty Classical Library of India	Established the Murty Classical Library of India (MCLI) at Harvard to promote Indian literature.

Also Read: Top 10 Famous English Authors in India

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 the Indian Institute of Engineers, India
• Cash award for securing the highest marks in SSLC
• Gold medal from the 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 the University of Karnataka
• Best Teacher Award in 1995 by the Rotary Club of Karnataka
• ‘Ojaswini’ Award for excellent social work for the year 2000
• ‘Millennium 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

Infosys and Social Work

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.

Best Books Written by Sudha Murthy

Sudha Murthy is a renowned author who writes primarily in English and the Kannada language. Some of hers 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

Here are some of the Kannada Books written by her:

• 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

Also Read: Essay On Bill Gates: The Founder of Microsoft

English Books Written by Sudha Murthy

Look at some of the English books written by renowned 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 Heaven
• 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 of 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.”

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The education of Sudha Murthy and her ideology to lead society towards a better future have inspired many to take philanthropy as a way of living. Personalities like hers inspire us to believe in dreams and work hard towards achieving them. If you have a dream of studying abroad, Leverage Edu can help you realise it. From applying to a university to getting a visa done, our experts will help you with all of it.