Sudha Murthy needs no introduction – her lending of ₹10,000 to her husband, N.R. Narayana Murthy, led to the birth of Infosys, India's IT giant. Now, Sudha Murthy makes a groundbreaking pivot from business to politics, as she joins the Rajya Sabha, nominated by President Draupadi Murmu.
Infosys: Powered by Sudha Murthy's Contribution
Sudha Murthy, along with her husband, N.R. Narayana Murthy, and his six collaborators, founded Infosys in 1981. Today, it stands as India's second-largest tech company, boasting a striking market cap of ₹6,69,920.64 crore. Its impact spans the globe, from the Americas to the UK. Narayana Murthy has often highlighted his wife's critical role in the company's success. PM Modi corroborated Sudha's nomination to the Rajya Sabha via an X post.
From Financial Struggles to Tech Titans
Those early days found Narayana Murthy in financial hardship. The couple lived in a one-room house while envisioning what would become Infosys. Sudha Murthy has reminisced about these moments on TV shows and in interviews. With the company name set, the only obstacle was funding. Narayana Murthy took a loan of ₹10,000 from Sudha, igniting the spark for what would become a global enterprise, beginning from a modest apartment in Pune and later moving to Bengaluru in 1983.
The company's relentless progress expanded its operations and reach. By 1999, Infosys became the first Indian entity to be listed on the Nasdaq, evidencing its monumental growth. Today, it employs more than 300,000 individuals worldwide.
Sudha Murthy: Pioneering Female Engineer at Tata
Sudha Murthy, born in North Karnataka's Shiggaon on August 19, 1950, to R.H. Kulkarni and Vimla Kulkarni, blazed trails in engineering. Graduating in electrical engineering, she was the first woman among 150 students to enrol and the first female engineer at Tata Motors. Her literary talents extend to eight novels.
Rishi Sunak: Son-in-Law and UK Prime Minister
Sudha Murthy, with Narayana Murthy, has two children: daughter Akshata Murthy and son Rohan Murthy. She is the mother-in-law of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. As her husband struggled to launch his company, Sudha not only provided financial support but also abandoned her job to assist at every level in the founding of Infosys.
