In Shiggaon, a small town in Karnataka, on August 19, 1950, a girl was born into a family where books were treasures and compassion was tradition.
Her father, a doctor. Her mother, a schoolteacher.
Their home taught her one truth early:
“Knowledge is wealth — but kindness is destiny.”
That girl was Sudha Kulkarni — the world would later know her as Sudha Murty, writer, engineer, teacher, philanthropist, and the gentle lightning behind the Infosys story.
The Girl Who Would Not Step Back
Sudha was brilliant from the beginning — curious, fearless, unafraid of challenges.
When she applied to the B.V. Bhoomaraddi College of Engineering in the 1960s, she was the only girl in her entire engineering class.
Her presence caused whispers. Her brilliance silenced them.
She topped her university, breaking every stereotype with quiet dignity.
Later, she went to IISc, Bangalore, for her postgraduate studies — earning a gold medal.
Doors didn’t just open for her — she pushed them open for countless women to follow.
The Letter That Changed Everything
Sudha read a job advertisement for TELCO (now Tata Motors) that said:
“Women candidates need not apply.”
She did something extraordinary — she wrote a letter to JRD Tata himself, calling out discrimination with firm grace.
He was so moved that he invited her personally.
Sudha Murty became TELCO’s first female engineer.
Years later, she recounted that moment with a smile:
“When you dare to speak truth respectfully, doors open.”
The Beginning of Infosys
One evening, her husband, N. R. Narayana Murthy, came home with a dream — a software company that could stand among the world’s best.
They had no money. But Sudha believed.
She gave him her entire savings — ₹10,000, all she had — and became the first investor of Infosys.
Infosys began not in a glass tower, but in a small rented house — funded by a schoolteacher with vision and patience.
She raised their children, supported Murthy silently, and never demanded the spotlight.
She was the foundation upon which a global empire was built.
The Writer Who Found Her Voice
Sudha Murty wrote like she lived — simply, honestly, from the heart.
Her stories captured the India we know but often forget:
teachers, grandparents, humble heroes, small kindnesses, big hearts.
She didn’t write to impress — she wrote to inspire.
“Simple living is not about denying yourself. It is about choosing what truly matters.”
The Philanthropist Who Walked Into Villages
As the Chairperson of the Infosys Foundation, she didn’t sit in an air-conditioned office signing checks.
She traveled to the remotest villages, sat with people, listened to their stories, and built solutions with her own hands.
- She built schools, hospitals, libraries.
- Helped flood victims, drought-hit regions, and underprivileged children.
- Worked to improve hygiene, sanitation, and education for women.
Her philanthropy was never charity — it was humanity in action.
The Woman Who Chose Humility Over Fame
Sudha Murty could have been a titan of industry.
Instead, she chose to be a teacher — guiding students, nurturing dreams, and living life with astonishing simplicity.
She wore the same sarees she always had.
She never chased luxury.
She never sought applause.
“Give with a pure heart. The universe remembers.”
The Legacy
Sudha Murty is a story of grace without noise, strength without show, intellect without ego.
She showed India that greatness is not in power — it is in goodness.
She remains one of the most respected women the nation has ever produced — a beacon of hope, compassion, humility, and quiet courage.