Porni Banerjee | ০৮ মার্চ ২০২৪ ১৬ : ২৩Porni Banerjee

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced that President Droupadi Murmu has nominated Sudha Murty to the Rajya Sabha. He took to X to express his pride saying that Sudha Ji’s presence in the Upper House of the Parliament is a powerful example of ‘Nari Shakti’ as the announcement was made on International Women’s Day.

“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,” said PM Modi.

The President of India nominates 12 members to the Rajya Sabha for their significant contributions in the areas of arts, literature, science and social welfare.

Thanking PM Modi for the nomination, Sudha Murty said, “It’s a big Women’s Day gift to me. It’s a new responsibility to work for the country.” Murty, 73, began her career as computer scientist and engineer and became the first female engineer hired at Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company (Telco), thereby inspiring millions of women worldwide to explore their untapped potential.

Sudha Murty is an exceptional writer in Kannada and English and has authored novels, technical books, and travelogues. She is a Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awardee. Her philanthropic contributions are extensive too as she has focused on the issues like poverty, healthcare, and sanitation. 

Murty is married to Narayana Murthy - the founder of IT giant Infosys and is the mother-in-law of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. UK’s First Lady Akshata Murthy is her daughter.