Vision without action is merely a dream; action without vision is simply passing time, but vision and action together can change the world.” — Sudha Murty.
Sudha Murty was born in Shiggaon, Karnataka, in 1950. Sudha’s family was well-educated and valued learning. Her father, Dr. R. H. Kulkarni, was a surgeon; her mother, Vimala Kulkarni, was a school teacher. Growing up, Sudha spent time with her parents and grandparents, who taught her the importance of kindness, discipline, and fairness.
She loved books, stories, and school from a small age. Her schooling was good, but she also recognized the limitations that many girls faced. In those days, it was not common for girls to go into engineering. But Sudha Murty did. She took a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical & Electronics from B.V.B. College of Engineering & Technology. Then she got a Master’s in Computer Science from the Indian Institute of Science.
Oftentimes, she was the only woman among a group of men in her classes. Her environment was lonely and full of bias. But her love for learning gave her the strength to move forward.
After her studies, Sudha Murty applied to TELCO (now Tata Motors). There was a job advertisement that said “Lady students need not apply.” Sudha saw that and felt it was unfair. She wrote a letter, asked for a chance, got a special interview, and was hired. She became the first female engineer at TELCO.
Her early jobs involved moving across cities, including Pune, Mumbai, and Jamshedpur. She worked as a development engineer, then later as a senior systems analyst in Pune. In a world where women were not expected to do engineering or heavy technical work, she held her ground.
While pursuing a career in engineering, Sudha Murty became one of India’s most beloved writers. She has published novels, short stories, and children’s books in both English and Kannada.
One of her collections, named “How I Taught My Grandmother to Read and Other Stories,” continues to be one of her beloved pieces. This collection showcases how she helped her grandmother learn to read, illustrating the transformative power of literacy. By sharing this story, she reminds us of the dignity and independence that education brings at any age.
In 1996, Sudha Murty became the head of the Infosys Foundation. The foundation built thousands of libraries, provided support to schools, and improved hospitals in impoverished areas of India. Her work was not only about giving money. She wanted to give people real chances to grow and live better lives.
Her commitment to education is firm. The foundation has donated books, established digital classrooms, and provided teacher training in government schools. Her service has also been recognized at the national level by the Indian government. She received the Padma Shri for social work in 2006. In 2023, she was awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian honors. In 2024, Sudha Murty was chosen to join the Rajya Sabha for her work in books, education, and helping people.
What makes Sudha Murty special is not just what she has done but how she lives. She is simple in her ways. She often visits villages in plain clothes, speaks directly with people, and listens to their problems with care. This shows she believes real leaders serve people, not titles.
In her talks, she tells people to be honest, kind, and strong. She has shared the hard times she faced as a woman in engineering, how she balanced family and work, and how some changes took time. Because she speaks openly, many young people feel a close connection to her and regard her as a genuine role model.
Her work still grows today through her books, the Infosys Foundation, and her new role in public life. Sudha Murty’s story shows us that kindness is strong, action can bring change, and simple stories can inspire many. She proves that change does not need to be loud to matter, and that steady work can touch millions of lives.
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