Sudha Murty- The Woman That Leads

Sudha Murty, an Indian writer, philanthropist, author, social worker, chairman of the Infosys Foundation. She was born on 19th August, 1950 in Karnataka. Murty was the first woman Engineer hired at the TELCO after she had written a personal letter to Mr J.R.D Tata against the practice of only interviewing and appointing men for the job, in reply to which she was screened on a special interview and immediately hired by TELCO. She had also been awarded with Padma Shree in 2006. She married  co-founder of the Infosys Mr Narayana Murty and has two children.

Sudha Murty has written quite a lot of books which have been translated in all major Indian languages, and they include short stories, complete novels, children’s books. She has also written actively for newspapers. 

Some of her notable works are:

Three Thousand Stiches- 

As she’s a philanthropist and a social worker which takes her around India and the world, she’s a cave of many stories and interesting experiences. Three Thousand Stiches is one such book which talks about the experiences she had had on the Indian or the foreign soil. Easy to read and light hearted story telling teaches you basic values of life.

Mahashweta

Anupama looked into the mirror and shivered with shock. A small white patch had now appeared on her arm.’ Anupama’s fairy tale marriage to Anand falls apart when she discovers a white patch on her foot and learns that she has leukoderma. Abandoned by her uncaring in-laws and insensitive husband, she is forced to return to her father’s home in the village. The social stigma of a married woman living with her parents, her stepmother’s continual barbs and the ostracism that accompanies her skin condition force her to contemplate suicide. Determined to rebuild her life against all odds, Anupama goes to Bombay where she finds success, respect and the promise of an enduring friendship.

 Mahashweta is an inspiring story of courage and resilience in a world marred by illusions and betrayals. This poignant tale offers hope and solace to the victims of the prejudices that govern society even today.

Dollar Bahu

Vinuta is a young woman, who marries Girish, who is a bank clerk. Vinuta then begins to live in Bangalore, with Girish's family and starts to get accustomed to her new family. She gets used to this new change quite well and spends her life looking after her in-laws and her husband. She even tries her level best to ignore the taunts of her mother-in-law, Gouramma. Things take a turn for the worse, when Chandru, Girish's elder brother, gets married. Chandru is based in the US, with his wife, the ‘Dollar Bahu' and they live quite an extravagant life, because of the fact that Chandru earns well. Vinuta now faces constant comparisons between her and her new sister-in-law, much to Vinuta's dismay. Now Gouramma, Vinuta's mother-in-law, decides to pay Chandru a visit in the US, which turns things around. Gouramma now looks at the other side of life in the US, where she realizes that she will never get the respect there, which she gets in India. Even though middle-class life in India is difficult and bound by rules, it is one that is full of love and respect. Can this enlightening trip bring about a change in Vinuta and Gouramma's relationship? Dollar Bahu has been published by Penguin India, in the year 2007 and is available in paperback. Key Features The story is one that middle-class Indian people can easily relate to. The novel portrays the delicate relationships that exist in every family in a heart-touching way.

And Gently Falls the Bakula

Shrikant has always been attracted towards Shrimati, his school-companion, and after Shrimati also realises having fallen in love with Shrikant, both get married. After Shrikant joining an IT company, he dedicates his entire focus on being successful in career. Shrimati dilutes her own aspirations and stays back at home supporting Shrikant. Shrikant has turned into a successful corporate person while Shrimati has been with him in his journey. The life of both was fine until one day Shrimati realises while speaking to an old professor about what she had missed in her life. In the modern work-style, she had lost her own identity, while just remaining the wife of a successful man.

This story of Shrimati’s confession to her inner emptiness and the extraordinary presentation of the dark side of corporate lifestyle is the main theme of the book. The readers would find the book to be a philosophical and beautiful depiction of a common topic, and would be able to relate to many lives around. Penguin India published Gently Falls: The Bakula in 2008 in paperback.