The Inspiring Story of Sudha Murty: From Overcoming Stereotypes to Empowering the Underprivileged

Sudha Murty is a woman of many talents, an engineer, a teacher, an author, and a social worker, but above all, she is an inspiration to millions of people around the world.

Her life story is a testament to the power of determination and the ability to overcome adversity. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the incredible journey of Sudha Murty and how she became the successful woman she is today. Her net worth is 775+ crores.

Breaking Stereotypes and Overcoming Adversity

Sudha Murty’s story begins in the late 1960s when she decided to pursue a career in engineering.

At the time, engineering was not seen as a suitable profession for women, and her family was against her decision. Despite the odds, Sudha Murty was determined to break the stereotypes and do what she wanted to do.

In 1968, Sudha Murty became the only female engineering student among 599 boys at the BVB College of Engineering. She faced numerous challenges, including being teased by her classmates and facing discrimination from the college administration. She was not allowed to visit the college canteen, was required to wear a saree, and was not allowed to talk to boys. Additionally, there were no toilets for women in the college at the time.

Despite these challenges, Sudha Murty persevered and topped the entire university a year later, proving everyone wrong. She even received a gold medal from the Chief Minister of Karnataka for scoring the highest marks in Engineering state-wide. Her success opened up doors for other women to pursue engineering as a career.

Breaking the Glass Ceiling

After completing her master’s from IISc Bangalore, Sudha Murty was preparing to do her Ph.D. abroad when she saw an advertisement from TELCO (now Tata Motors). The ad had a note saying, “Female candidates need not apply.” Sudha Murty took it to her ego and wrote a letter to JRD Tata. To her surprise, 10 days later, JRD Tata replied, and she was invited for an interview with her trip sponsored by Tata.

Sudha Murty got selected post her interview and became the first female engineer at TELCO. She had won against discrimination with determination. She even met Narayan Murthy through TELCO, and they married in 1978 with Rs. 800 in expenses, both bearing Rs 400 each.

Supporting Entrepreneurship and Empowering the Underprivileged

In 1982, Narayan Murthy started Infosys with a great vision but had no spare cash. Sudha Murty had saved Rs 10,250 for emergencies and gave Rs 10K to Narayan. She thought it was better if Narayan tried and failed, rather than regret never trying. Her initial support and motivation helped him get the company to where it is today. However, as the company grew, Sudha Murty left Infosys to take care of their children.

Once their son wanted to throw a lavish birthday party, but Sudha Murty explained the value of money and how it could be used to help the underprivileged.

You need to watch this video:

She encouraged her son to donate the money to help children who couldn’t afford to go to school.

This was the turning point for Sudha Murty, and she started the Infosys Foundation in 1996.

Through the Infosys Foundation, Sudha Murty has built 2300+ houses for people affected by floods, 16000+ toilets throughout rural India, and 60000+ school libraries in rural India.

She encourages kids to read as much as possible and has implemented initiatives like “The Mahila Samakhya Program” to promote women’s education and empowerment in rural areas, particularly of women from socially and economically marginalised groups.

She has the philosophy of FORGIVE, FORGET, MOVE ON. In one of her interviews, she said-

“I never forget but always forgive, and then move on. Otherwise, the burden of grudges will pull me down.”

She started writing in childhood because her mother made her write essays of 25 lines daily or she wouldn’t get dinner! The writing habit has helped her write 30+ books. Her book “How I Taught My Grandmother to Read” has sold over 1 lakh copies!

She also loves movies & once completed a dare to watch 365 movies in 365 days. She had a collection of over 500 DVDs in her home & never gets tired of cinema! I think we all have something in common with her :)

She received the Padma Shri award in 2006 and recently received the Padma Bhushan.

Sudha Murty’s story is an inspiration to many, especially women who are breaking the societal stereotypes and pursuing their dreams. Her journey teaches us that with perseverance, determination, and hard work, one can achieve anything they want, no matter how difficult the journey may seem.

Sudha Murty’s life also teaches us the importance of giving back to society and helping those in need. She has been instrumental in improving the lives of thousands of people in India, especially in rural areas, through her foundation’s work. As the saying goes, “behind every successful man is a woman,” and Sudha Murty is a living embodiment of this statement.

Her support and encouragement played a significant role in the success of her husband’s company, Infosys. In conclusion, Sudha Murty’s life is an example of how one person can make a significant impact on the world with their hard work, determination, and a giving heart. We can all learn from her journey and strive to make a positive difference in our own lives and the lives of those around us.

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