RNS: On the occasion of Women’s Day, President Droupadi Murmu has nominated educator, author, and philanthropist Sudha Murty to the Rajya Sabha.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared the news on social media, expressing his delight at Murty’s nomination to the Upper House. He praised her nomination as a powerful testament to ‘Nari Shakti’ (Women Power).
“Sudha Ji’s contributions to diverse fields including social work, philanthropy, and education, have been immense and inspiring. Her presence in the Rajya Sabha is a powerful testament to our ‘Nari Shakti’, exemplifying the strength and potential of women in shaping our nation’s destiny,” Modi wrote in his post on X.
Sudha Murty, the wife of Infosys founder Narayana Murthy, is a prolific writer in Kannada and English, known for her novels, technical books, and travelogues. She is also the mother of venture capitalist Akshata Murty, who is married to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Murty expressed her gratitude to PM Modi for the nomination, calling it a significant Women’s Day gift and a new responsibility to serve the country.
The 73-year-old has received several awards, including the Padma Shri in 2006, the Padma Bhushan in 2023, the RK Narayan Award for Literature, the Attimabbe Award from the government of Karnataka for excellence in Kannada literature in 2011, and the Lifetime Achievement by Crossword Book Awards in 2018.
Born on August 19, 1950, in Karnataka’s Shiggaon, Sudha Murty started her career as a computer scientist and engineer, becoming the first female engineer hired at Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company (Telco).
