- Monday, March 10, 2025
The veteran author, educator and philanthropist was nominated to Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of the Indian parliament, by the Indian president on March 8.
By: Shubham Ghosh
SUDHA MURTY, an eminent Indian author, educator, philanthropist and mother-in-law of British prime minister Rishi Sunak, on Thursday (14) took oath as a member of the Indian parliament in New Delhi in the presence of Indian vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar. The event was also attended by Sudha’s husband Narayana Murthy, one of India’s tech billionaires and co-founder of information technology giant Infosys, and trade and commerce minister Piyush Goyal and others.
Dhankhar administered the oath of office to Sudha Murty as the chairman of the House.
The 73-year-old Sudha was nominated to the Rajya Sabha or Upper House of the Indian parliament on March 8, the day celebrated as the International Women’s Day, and the news was confirmed by prime minister Narendra Modi on X. He praised the veteran’s contributions to various fields, including social work.
Read: Akshata Murty praises mother Sudha Murty as business role model
Speaking to news agency Asian News International, she said she was happy but also added that it added to her responsibility.
“I’ll work my level best. On a personal level, I am happy that I’m getting a bigger platform to work for the poor,” Sudha, who was conferred Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award last year, said.
Read: Sunak’s mother-in-law Sudha Murty nominated to India parliament
#WATCH | Author and philanthropist Sudha Murty, nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President Droupadi Murmu, took oath as a member of the Upper House of Parliament, in Delhi, today pic.twitter.com/USuBoiNkFN
— ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2024
Sudha, however, said she did not consider herself a politician when asked whether the membership of the Rajya Sabha marked a step into the field of politics. She was nominated to the upper chamber by Indian president Droupadi Murmu, who can pick 12 members who have excelled in fields such as art, literature, science and social service for nomination to the chamber.
Her daughter Akshata Murty, a businesswoman and wife of Sunak, also praised her at an event held at Downing Street on the occasion for the Women’s Day saying she is a role model for those women who aim to become successful in business.
Like Narayana Murthy, Sudha holds a degree in engineering and did her master’s from the prestigious Indian Institute of Science in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru. She is the first woman engineer at TATA Engineering and Locomotive Company and is also well known for her social activism and contribution to both English and Kannada literature besides the establishment of Infosys Foundation.
