Philanthropist and author Sudha Murty was sworn in as a member of the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, following her nomination by President Droupadi Murmu. The oath-taking ceremony took place in the presence of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar and Union Minister Piyush Goyal at the Parliament. Sudha Murty’s husband and Infosys co-founder, N. R. Narayana Murthy, accompanied her at the event.
Prime Minister Modi expressed his congratulations to Murty on her nomination, highlighting her significant contributions to various fields such as social work, philanthropy, and education. He praised her immense and inspiring impact and emphasized her presence in the Rajya Sabha as a testament to the strength and potential of women in shaping the nation’s destiny.
In her response to ANI after the nomination, Sudha Murty expressed happiness and a sense of increased responsibility. She said, “I’m happy, at the same time I feel I have been given more 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.”
When asked about whether this could be considered a step into the political arena, Sudha Murty was clear that she did not consider herself a politician. She said, “I don’t think that I could consider myself as a politician and I’m not a politician. I’m a nominated Rajya Sabha member. My son-in-law’s (UK PM Rishi Sunak) politics is for his country and it is different, and my work is different. I’m a government worker now.”
A renowned author in both English and Kannada literature, Sudha Murty retired as the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation on December 31, 2021. She was honored with the Padma Bhushan in 2023 for her outstanding contributions to social work, following her Padma Shri award in 2006.