Sudha Murty Nominated To Rajya Sabha By President Droupadi Murmu On Women's Day

PM Narendra Modi, expressing his happiness on Sudha Murty's nomination to Rajya Sabha, praised the latter for her contribution to social work, philanthropy and education.

New Delhi: Indian educator, author and philanthropist and chairperson of the Infosys Foundation Sudha Murty has been nominated by President Droupadi Murmu to Rajya Sabha on Women's Day.

PM Narendra Modi, expressing his elation on Murty's nomination to the upper house praised the latter for her contribution to social work, philanthropy and education.

I am delighted that the President of India has nominated @SmtSudhaMurty Ji to the Rajya Sabha. Sudha Ji's contributions to diverse fields including social work, philanthropy and education have been immense and inspiring. Her presence in the Rajya Sabha is a powerful testament to… pic.twitter.com/lL2b0nVZ8F — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 8, 2024

"I am delighted that the President of India has nominated @SmtSudhaMurty Ji to the Rajya Sabha. Sudha Ji's contributions to diverse fields including social work, philanthropy and education have been immense and inspiring. Her presence in the Rajya Sabha is a powerful testament to our 'Nari Shakti', exemplifying the strength and potential of women in shaping our nation's destiny. Wishing her a fruitful Parliamentary tenure," PM Modi wrote.

After President Droupadi Murmu nominated Sudha Murty for the Rajya Sabha, philanthropist and author 
Sharing her comments after the news, Murty said that she is happy that she is getting a bigger platform to work for the poor adding that her nomination and work had nothing to do with politics.

"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," Sudha Murty told news agency ANI

Answering to the question on whether this could be considered a step into the political arena, Sudha Murty 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".

Sudha Murty had retired as the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation on December 31, 2021. She was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2023 for her contribution in the field of social work. In 2006, she was conferred the Padma Shri.

Murty is married to the co-founder of Infosys, NR Narayana Murty and is the mother-in-law of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. 

In October last year, Sudha Murty became the first woman to get Global Indian Award. was conferred with the Global Indian Award by the Canada India Foundation at the biggest Indo-Canadian gala in Toronto. The Global Indian Award, which is worth $50,000, is given each year to a prominent Indian who has made a major mark in his or her chosen field.

She donated the award money to The Field Institute (University of Toronto) which is internationally renowned for strengthening collaboration, innovation, and learning in mathematics and across a broad range of disciplines.