Sudha Murty, the renowned Rajya Sabha MP and esteemed author, has revealed the pivotal role her daughter, Akshata Murty, played in steering her towards a life of philanthropy. Known for her extensive charitable work, Sudha Murty shared an enlightening account of how a conversation with Akshata ignited her commitment to giving back.
In a recent video posted on X (formerly Twitter), Sudha Murty recounted a moment of personal revelation, describing how her daughter’s perspective significantly influenced her philanthropic journey. The story unfolded when Akshata approached her mother with a request for sponsorship.
“My daughter Akshata’s perspective made me realise the importance of sharing our blessings with others,” Sudha Murty explained. “She came and told me one day that amma, I found out a very bright boy by the name of Anand Sharma, who is very good at studies butvery poor. He may get admission to St. Stephen’s College in Delhi. Who can sponsor him?”
At that time, Sudha Murty was deeply engaged in her role as the Head of the Computer Science Department and found herself preoccupied with work. Although she initially suggested that she could handle the sponsorship, Akshata’s response was both surprising and thought-provoking.
“My daughter told me you never give money,” Akshata pointedly told her mother. Sudha Murty, who had a habit of not providing direct financial aid to her children but rather fulfilling their wishlists, was taken aback. Akshata continued, “I don’t have any money, and you say, how can I sponsor?”
The conversation took a more profound turn when Akshata questioned her mother’s commitment to philanthropy. “Amma, you’re well travelled, well-read, fairly intelligent, and if you can’t do philanthropy, then you don’t have a right to say to anyone that they should do philanthropy,” Akshata said.
This poignant exchange led Sudha Murty to reflect deeply on her daughter’s words. After a week of contemplation, she decided to fully immerse herself in philanthropic work. “I thought over it over a period of one week and decided to do full-time philanthropy. I was sleeping, I felt, my daughter woke me up,” she noted.
Sudha Murty, who is married to NR Narayana Murthy, the co-founder of Infosys, has two children: Akshata Murty and Rohan Murty. Beyond her philanthropic ventures, she is a prolific novelist and motivational speaker. She has received numerous accolades for her contributions, including the Padma Shri in 2006 and the Padma Bhushan in 2023.
Her charitable efforts include founding orphanages, supporting rural development projects, enhancing computer and library facilities in Karnataka government schools, and establishing the Murty Classical Library of India at Harvard University. Additionally, she is involved in public healthcare initiatives through the Gates Foundation.
