Sudha Murty is an Indian author, educator, engineer, philanthropist and public figure best known for her books, social work and association with the Infosys Foundation. She is also the wife of Infosys founder N. R. Narayana Murthy.
Born on August 19, 1950, in Shiggaon, Karnataka, Sudha Murty grew up in a family that valued education and reading. Her career has crossed several fields, including engineering, teaching, writing and philanthropy. Her official biography says she has written more than 40 books, with her work published in English and Kannada and translated into several Indian languages.
Her journey is particularly notable because she became one of the early women engineers in India’s corporate technology sector before building a second career as one of India’s best-known authors and philanthropists.
Sudha Murty Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sudha Murty |
| Date of Birth | August 19, 1950 |
| Age in 2026 | 76 years |
| Birthplace | Shiggaon, Karnataka, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Profession | Author, engineer, educator, philanthropist |
| Known For | Books, Infosys Foundation, philanthropy |
| Husband | N. R. Narayana Murthy |
| Children | Akshata Murty and Rohan Murty |
| Major Organization | Infosys Foundation |
| Writing Languages | Kannada and English |
| Books | 40+ |
| Padma Shri | 2006 |
| Padma Bhushan | 2023 |
Who Is Sudha Murty?
Sudha Murty is an Indian author and philanthropist whose career combines engineering, education, literature and social service.
She is particularly recognized for her work with the Infosys Foundation, which she helped establish in 1996. During her tenure, the Foundation supported initiatives involving education, healthcare, rural development, arts and culture and support for disadvantaged communities. Her official biography says she retired from the Foundation in 2021.
She is also widely known for books such as Three Thousand Stitches, Wise and Otherwise, Dollar Bahu, Grandma’s Bag of Stories and How I Taught My Grandmother to Read and Other Stories.
Her writing is known for using simple stories to communicate ideas about kindness, education, family, courage, empathy and social responsibility.
Sudha Murty Age and Birth
Sudha Murty was born on August 19, 1950, in Shiggaon in northern Karnataka.
As of October 2026, she is 76 years old.
She grew up surrounded by books and stories. According to her official biography, her grandparents played an important role in developing her interest in storytelling and reading.
Her childhood experiences later became an important source of inspiration for her writing.
Sudha Murty Education
Education has always been one of the strongest themes in Sudha Murty’s life.
She studied engineering in Karnataka and later completed a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.
Infosys describes her as holding a master’s degree in electrical engineering from IISc.
Her engineering education was significant because she entered a field that had very few women at the time.
Her official biography notes that she was the only female student in her engineering class and later became the first woman to be selected by TELCO after challenging the company’s recruitment practices.
Sudha Murty’s Engineering Career
After completing her education, Sudha Murty began her professional career as an engineer.
She worked as a development engineer at TELCO, now known as Tata Motors. She later worked in other technology and educational roles and taught computer science at Bangalore University. Infosys records her early career at TELCO and her teaching experience.
Her experience at TELCO was especially important because it exposed her to a male-dominated engineering environment.
One of the most remembered episodes from her early career involved her decision to challenge the company’s recruitment policy after noticing that its job advertisement appeared to exclude women.
She wrote to J. R. D. Tata, and she was subsequently invited for an interview.
She became the first woman engineer hired by TELCO, according to her official biography.
Sudha Murty and Narayana Murthy
Sudha Murty is married to N. R. Narayana Murthy, the founder of Infosys.
Their relationship is an important part of the Infosys story, but Sudha Murty’s own career developed independently through engineering, education, literature and philanthropy.
During the early days of Infosys, she supported Narayana Murthy’s entrepreneurial journey.
Infosys historical material records that the company’s early paid-in capital of ₹10,000 was reportedly borrowed by Narayana Murthy from Sudha Murty.
This often-cited story illustrates the limited resources available to the founders when Infosys began.
Sudha Murty and Infosys Foundation
One of Sudha Murty’s most significant professional contributions came through the Infosys Foundation.
The Foundation was established in 1996 as the philanthropic arm associated with Infosys. Its work has covered education, healthcare, rural development, arts and culture and support for disadvantaged communities.
Sudha Murty served as its chairperson for many years.
Some of the Foundation’s work included:
- Building and supporting educational institutions
- Libraries and educational resources
- Healthcare initiatives
- Rural development
- Disaster relief
- Support for women and disadvantaged communities
- Preservation of Indian art and culture
- Programs supporting vulnerable communities
The Foundation’s reports document initiatives ranging from rural school libraries and computers for classrooms to hospitals and disaster-relief infrastructure.
Sudha Murty retired from the Foundation in 2021, according to her official biography.
Sudha Murty Philanthropy
Philanthropy is one of the defining parts of Sudha Murty’s public life.
Her approach has generally focused on practical interventions rather than simply donating money. Her work has included education, healthcare, rural communities, women’s empowerment and cultural preservation.
Her involvement with the Devadasi community was one of the social causes she highlighted through her work and writing. The subject is also discussed in her book Three Thousand Stitches.
The Infosys Foundation has also supported initiatives in remote and underserved regions of India.
In more recent years, Infosys’ CSR work has continued through the Infosys Foundation and other regional initiatives, with focus areas including skilling and livelihoods, healthcare, women’s empowerment and environmental sustainability.
Sudha Murty as an Author
Sudha Murty began her writing career in 1978 with a Kannada travelogue.
Her first English book, Wise and Otherwise, was published in 2002. Since then, she has written more than 40 books across fiction, nonfiction, children’s literature, travel writing and memoir.
Her official website says her books have sold more than 6 million copies worldwide and have been translated into several Indian languages.
Popular Sudha Murty Books
Some of her best-known books include:
- Wise and Otherwise
- Three Thousand Stitches
- Dollar Bahu
- Grandma’s Bag of Stories
- How I Taught My Grandmother to Read and Other Stories
- The Magic Drum and Other Favourite Stories
- The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk
- Gopi Diaries
- The Bird with the Golden Wings
- Something Happened on the Way to Heaven
Her children’s books have helped make her particularly popular among younger readers and parents.
Sudha Murty Writing Style
A major reason for her popularity is the simplicity of her writing.
Instead of relying on complicated language, she often uses everyday characters and situations to explore larger themes.
Common themes in her books include:
- Kindness
- Empathy
- Education
- Family
- Honesty
- Hard work
- Humility
- Social responsibility
- Courage
- Gratitude
Her official website describes these values as recurring themes in her stories.
Sudha Murty Awards and Recognition
Sudha Murty has received numerous awards for her contribution to literature and social work.
Padma Shri
She received the Padma Shri in 2006 for social work through the Infosys Foundation.
Padma Bhushan
In 2023, the Government of India awarded Sudha Murty the Padma Bhushan for her contribution to social work. The official government notification confirms the award.
Sahitya Akademi Award
Her official biography also records the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2023, recognizing her literary work.
She has additionally received other literary and social-service honors and honorary doctorates from universities across India.
Sudha Murty Net Worth in 2026
Sudha Murty’s exact personal net worth is not consistently disclosed through an authoritative public source.
Because her public profile includes literary income, investments, family wealth and philanthropic activities, online estimates can vary substantially.
For an SEO biography, it is better not to present an unsupported exact net-worth figure as fact.
A more reliable approach is to explain that Sudha Murty’s financial profile is connected to her professional earnings, investments and long-term family assets, while her public reputation is primarily associated with literature, education and philanthropy rather than wealth.
Sudha Murty Family
Sudha Murty and Narayana Murthy have two children:
- Akshata Murty
- Rohan Murty
Infosys’ official biography of Narayana Murthy confirms that the couple has two children.
The Murty family has significant connections to technology, entrepreneurship, education and philanthropy.
However, Sudha Murty’s own career stands independently through her engineering background, writing career and social work.
Sudha Murty and Women’s Empowerment
Women’s education and professional participation have been recurring themes in Sudha Murty’s life.
Her own engineering journey occurred at a time when women were significantly underrepresented in technical professions.
Her early experience at TELCO became an example of challenging institutional barriers through education, confidence and persistence.
She has also supported initiatives benefiting women through philanthropic work.
Her life demonstrates how technical education can become a foundation for careers in multiple fields.
Sudha Murty and Education
Education remains one of the strongest themes throughout her professional and philanthropic work.
Her philanthropic initiatives have supported:
- Schools
- Libraries
- Educational infrastructure
- Scholarships
- Computer education
- Rural education
- Student development
The Infosys Foundation’s historical work includes school libraries and the Computers@Classrooms initiative, among several education-focused programs.
Her own story also reinforces the importance of education as a tool for social mobility.
Sudha Murty and the Murty Trust
Sudha Murty is also associated with the Murty Trust, which focuses on areas including Indian art, culture and heritage, nature conservation, science and research, according to her official biography.
This work extends the Murty family’s philanthropic interests beyond traditional charity into preservation, knowledge and cultural initiatives.
Sudha Murty’s Public Life
Sudha Murty has remained a prominent public figure through books, speeches, interviews, social initiatives and educational work.
She is often invited to speak about:
- Education
- Women’s empowerment
- Leadership
- Literature
- Ethics
- Philanthropy
- Family values
- Entrepreneurship
Her public appeal comes partly from the contrast between her achievements and her relatively simple communication style.
Sudha Murty Timeline
| Year | Major Event |
|---|---|
| 1950 | Born in Shiggaon, Karnataka |
| 1970s | Completed engineering and postgraduate studies |
| 1978 | Began writing career in Kannada |
| 1970s | Joined TELCO as an engineer |
| 1980s | Continued work in technology and education |
| 1996 | Infosys Foundation established |
| 2002 | First English book, Wise and Otherwise, published |
| 2006 | Received Padma Shri |
| 2021 | Retired from Infosys Foundation |
| 2023 | Received Padma Bhushan |
| 2023 | Received Sahitya Akademi Award |
| 2026 | Continues literary, cultural and philanthropic work |
Why Is Sudha Murty Famous?
Sudha Murty is famous for several interconnected achievements.
First, she was a pioneering woman engineer who entered India’s corporate engineering sector when women were significantly underrepresented.
Second, she became an important figure in Indian philanthropy through the Infosys Foundation.
Third, she built a successful literary career, writing books for children and adults in Kannada and English.
Finally, she became a widely recognized public speaker and educator whose work emphasizes compassion, learning, ethics and social responsibility.
Lessons From Sudha Murty’s Life
1. Education creates opportunities
Her engineering education opened the door to a career that was unusual for women of her generation.
2. Don’t accept unnecessary limitations
Her early experience with TELCO demonstrates the importance of challenging unfair assumptions.
3. Success can have multiple chapters
Her career moved from engineering to teaching, philanthropy and literature.
4. Keep communication simple
Her books demonstrate that powerful ideas do not require complicated language.
5. Give back to society
Her philanthropic career shows how professional success can be connected with social responsibility.
6. Keep learning
Her continuing interest in books, history, culture and education has remained an important part of her life.
Interesting Facts About Sudha Murty
- Sudha Murty was born in Karnataka in 1950.
- She studied electrical engineering.
- She earned a master’s degree from IISc Bengaluru.
- She became the first woman engineer hired by TELCO.
- She started writing in Kannada in 1978.
- Her first English book was Wise and Otherwise.
- She has written more than 40 books.
- Her books have sold millions of copies worldwide.
- She helped establish the Infosys Foundation in 1996.
- She received the Padma Shri in 2006.
- She received the Padma Bhushan in 2023.
- She has worked extensively in education and healthcare philanthropy.
- She has written both children’s and adult literature.
- Her husband is Infosys founder N. R. Narayana Murthy.
- She has two children, Akshata Murty and Rohan Murty.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sudha Murty
Who is Sudha Murty?
Sudha Murty is an Indian author, engineer, educator and philanthropist. She is best known for her books and her long association with the Infosys Foundation.
How old is Sudha Murty in 2026?
Sudha Murty was born on August 19, 1950. She is 76 years old in 2026.
Who is Sudha Murty’s husband?
Her husband is N. R. Narayana Murthy, the founder of Infosys.
What is Sudha Murty famous for?
She is famous for her books, philanthropy, engineering career, educational initiatives and work with the Infosys Foundation.
How many books has Sudha Murty written?
Her official website says she has written more than 40 books in English and Kannada.
What are Sudha Murty’s most famous books?
Popular titles include Three Thousand Stitches, Wise and Otherwise, Grandma’s Bag of Stories, Dollar Bahu and How I Taught My Grandmother to Read and Other Stories.
When did Sudha Murty start writing?
She began her writing career in 1978 with a Kannada travelogue.
What did Sudha Murty study?
She studied engineering and later completed a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru.
When was Infosys Foundation established?
The Infosys Foundation was established in 1996 as a nonprofit trust associated with Infosys.
Did Sudha Murty work at Tata Motors?
Yes. She worked as a development engineer at TELCO, which is now Tata Motors.
When did Sudha Murty receive the Padma Shri?
She received the Padma Shri in 2006 for social work.
When did Sudha Murty receive the Padma Bhushan?
She received the Padma Bhushan in 2023.
How many children does Sudha Murty have?
Sudha Murty and Narayana Murthy have two children, Akshata Murty and Rohan Murty.
What is Sudha Murty’s net worth in 2026?
There is no consistently authoritative public source establishing an exact 2026 personal net-worth figure for Sudha Murty. Online estimates vary, so unsupported exact numbers should be treated cautiously.
What is Sudha Murty’s contribution to society?
Her contributions include education, healthcare, rural development, women’s empowerment, cultural preservation and support for disadvantaged communities through philanthropic initiatives.
Conclusion
Sudha Murty’s biography is much more than the story of the wife of a technology entrepreneur.
She built her own identity as an engineer, educator, author and philanthropist. From entering a male-dominated engineering industry to establishing a major philanthropic career and becoming one of India’s most widely read contemporary authors, her journey spans several different worlds.
Her story demonstrates the power of education, persistence, simplicity and social responsibility.
For readers interested in Indian entrepreneurs and influential personalities, Sudha Murty’s life also provides an important perspective on the human and social dimensions behind India’s technology success story.