This is written by Sudha Murthy, wife of Infosys Chairman Narayanamurthy,in Ananda Vikatan (newsletter), about her life and the story of How Infosys was born......its goes like this from the proverbial horse's mouth...
It was in Pune that I met Narayan Murty through my friend Prasanna who is now the
Wipro chief, who was also training in Telco. Most of the books that
Prasanna
lent me had Murty's name on them, which meant that I had a preconceived
image of the man. Contrary to expectation, Murty was shy, bespectacled
and
an introvert.
When he invited us for dinner, I was a bit taken aback as I thought the
young man was making a very fast move. I refused since I was the only
girl
in the group. But Murty was relentless and we all decided to meet for
dinner
the next day at 7.30 p.m. at Green Fields hotel on the Main Road, Pune.
The
next day I went there at 7 o clock since I had to go to the tailor near
the
hotel. And what do I see? Mr Murty waiting in front of the hotel and it
was
only seven.
Till today, Murty maintains that I had mentioned consciously!) that I
would
be going to the tailor At 7 so that I could meet him... And I maintain
that
I did not say any such thing consciously or unconsciously because I did
not
think of Murty as anything other than a friend at that stage. We have
agreed
to disagree on this matter. Soon, we became friends. Our conversations
were
filled with Murty's experiences abroad and the books that he has read.
My
friends insisted that Murty was trying to impress me because he was
interested in me. I kept denying it till one fine day, after dinner
Murty
said, I want
to tell you something.
I knew this was it. It was coming. He said, I am 5'4" tall. I come from
a
lower middle class family. I can never become rich in my life and I can
never give you any riches. You are beautiful, bright, intelligent and
you
can get anyone you want. But will you marry me? I asked Murty to give me
some time for an answer. My father didn't want me to marry a wannabe
politician, (a communist at that) who didn't have a steady job and
wanted
to
build an orphanage... When I went to Hubli I told my parents about Murty
and
his proposal. My mother was positive since Murty was also from
Karnataka,
seemed intelligent and comes from a good family. But my father asked:
What's his job, his salary, his qualifications etc? Murty was working as
a
research assistant and was earning less than me. He was willing to go
dutch
with me on our outings. My parents agreed to meet Murty in Pune on a
particular day at 10 a.m. sharp. Murty did not turn up. How can I trust
a
man to take care of my daughter if he cannot keep an appointment, asked
my
father. At 12 noon Murty turned up in a bright red shirt! He had gone on
work to Bombay, was stuck in
a traffic jam on the ghats, so he hired a taxi (though it was very
expensive
for him) to meet his would-be father-in-law. Father was unimpressed. My
father asked him what he wanted to become in life. Murty said he wanted
to
become a politician in the communist party and wanted to open an
orphanage.
My father gave his verdict. NO.
I don't want my daughter to marry somebody who wants to become a
communist
and then open an orphanage when he himself didn't have money to support
his
family. Ironically, today, I have opened many orphanages something,
which
Murty
wanted to do 25 years ago. By this time I realized I had developed a
liking
towards Murty, which could only be termed as love. I wanted to marry
Murty
because he is an honest man. He proposed to me highlighting the
negatives
in
his life. I promised my father that I would not marry Murty without his
blessings though at the same time, I cannot marry anybody else.
My father said he would agree if Murty promised to take up a steady job.
But
Murty refused saying he will not do things in life because somebody
wanted
him to. So, I was caught between the two most important people in my
life.
The stalemate continued for three years during which our courtship took
us
to every restaurant and cinema hall in Pune. In those days, Murty was
always
broke. Moreover, he didn't earn much to manage. Ironically today, he
manages
Infosys Technologies Ltd, one of the world's most reputed companies. He
always owed me money. We used to go for dinner and he would say, I don't
have money with me, you pay my share, I will return it to you later. For
three years I aintained a book on Murty's debt to me.
No, he never returned the money and I finally tore it up after my
wedding.
The amount was a little over Rs 4000. During this interim period Murty
quit
his job as research assistant and started his own software business.
Now,
I
had to pay his salary too! Towards the late 70s computers were entering
India in a big way.
During the fag end of 1977 Murty decided to take up a job as General
Manager at Patni Computers in Bombay. But before he joined the company
he
wanted to marry me since he was to go on training to the US after
joining.
My father gave in as he was happy Murty had a decent job, now.
WE WERE MARRIED IN MURTY'S HOUSE IN BANGALORE ON FEBRUARY 10, 1978 WITH
ONLY
OUR TWO FAMILIES PRESENT. I GOT MY FIRST SILK SARI. THE WEDDING EXPENSES
CAME TO ONLY RS 800 (US $ 17) WITH MURTY AND I POOLING IN RS 400 EACH.
I
went to the US with Murty after marriage. Murty encouraged me to see
America
on my own because I loved travelling. I toured America for three months
on
backpack and had interesting experiences, which will remain fresh in my
mind
forever.
Like the time when I was taken into custody by the New York police
because
they thought I was an Italian trafficking drugs in Harlem. Or the time
when
I spent the night at the bottom of the Grand Canyon with an old couple.
Murty panicked because he couldn't get a response from my hotel room
even
at
midnight. He thought I was either killed or kidnapped.
IN 1981 MURTY
WANTED
TO START INFOSYS. HE HAD A VISION AND ZERO CAPITAL... initially I was
very
apprehensive about Murty getting into business.
We did not have any business background. Moreover we were living a
comfortable life in Bombay with a regular paycheck and I didn't want to
rock
the boat. But Murty was passionate about creating good quality software.
I
decided to support him. Typical of Murty, he just had a dream and no
money.
So I gave him Rs 10,000 which I had saved for a rainy day, without his
knowledge and told him, This is all I have. Take it. I give you three
years
sabbatical leave. I will take care of the financial needs of our house.
You
go and chase your dreams without any worry. But you have only three
years!
Murty and his six colleagues started Infosys in 1981, with enormous
interest
and hard work. In 1982 I left Telco and moved to Pune with Murty. We
bought
a small house on loan, which also became the Infosys office. I was a
clerk-cum-cook-cum-programmer. I also took up a job as Senior Systems
Analyst with Walchand group of Industries to support the house. In 1983
Infosys got their first client, MICO, in Bangalore. Murty moved to
Bangalore
and stayed with his mother while I went to Hubli to deliver my second
child,
Rohan. Ten days after my son was born, Murty left for the US on project
work.
I saw him only after a year as I was unable to join Murty in the US
because
my son had infantile eczema, an allergy to vaccinations. So for more
than
a
year I did not step outside our home for fear of my son contracting an
infection. It was only after Rohan got all his vaccinations that I came
to
Bangalore where we rented a small house in Jayanagar and rented another
house as Infosys headquarters. My father presented Murty a scooter to
commute. I once again became a cook, programmer, clerk, secretary,
office
assistant et al. Nandan Nilekani (MD of Infosys) and his wife Rohini
stayed
with us.
While Rohini babysat my son, I wrote programmes for Infosys. There was
no
car, no phone, just two kids and a bunch of us working hard, juggling
our
lives and having fun while Infosys was taking shape. It was not only me
but
the wives of other partners too who gave their unstinted support. We all
knew that our men were trying to build something good. It was like a big
joint family, taking care and looking out for one another. I still
remember Sudha Gopalakrishna looking after my daughter Akshata with all
care and love while Kumari
Shibulal cooked for all of us. Murty made it very clear that it would
either be me or him working at Infosys. Never the two of us together...
I
was involved with Infosys initially. Nandan Nilekani suggested I should
be
on the Board but Murty said he did not want a husband and wife team at
Infosys. I was shocked since I had the relevant experience and technical
qualifications. He said, Sudha if you want to work with Infosys, I will
withdraw, happily. I was pained to know that I will not be involved
inthe
company my husband was building and that I would have to give up a job
that
I am qualified to do and love doing. It took me a couple of days to
grasp
the reason behind Murty's request.
I realised that to make Infosys a success one had to give one's 100
percent. One had to be focussed on it alone with no other distractions.
If
the two of us had to give 100 percent to Infosys then what would
happento
our home and our children? One of us had to take care of our home
whilethe
other took care of Infosys. I opted to be a homemaker, after all
Infosys
was Murty's dream. It was a big sacrifice but it was one that had to be
made.
Even today, Murty says, Sudha, I stepped on your career to
makemine.
You are responsible for my success. I might have given up my career for
my
husband's sake. But that does not make me a doormat... Many think that
I
have been made the sacrificial lamb at Narayan Murty's altar of success.
A few women journalists have even accused me of setting a wrong example
by
giving up my dreams to make my husbands a reality. Isn't freedom about
living your life the way you want it? What is right for one person
mightbe
wrong for another. It is up to the individual to make a choice that is
effective in her life. I feel that when a woman gives up her right to
choose for herself is when she crosses over From being an individual to
a
doormat. Murty's dreams encompassed notonly himself but a generation of
people. It was about founding something worthy, exemplary and
honorable.
It was about creation and distribution of wealth. His dreams were
grander
than my career plans, in all aspects.
So, when I had to choose between Murty's career and mine, I opted for
what
I thought was a right choice. We had a home and two little children.
Measles, mumps,fractures, PTA meetings, wants and needs of growing
children
do not care much for grandiose dreams. They just needed to be attended
to.
Somebody had to take care of it all. Somebody had to stay back to
create
a
home base that would be fertile for healthy growth, happiness, and more
dreams to dream. I became that somebody willingly. I can confidently
say
that if I had had a dream like Infosys, Murty would have given me his
unstinted support.
The roles would have been reversed. We are not bound by the archaic
rules
of
marriage. I cook for him but I don't wait up to serve dinner like a
traditional wife. So, he has no hassles about heating up the food and
having his dinner. He does not intrude into my time especially when I
am
writing my novels. He does not interfere in my work at theInfosys
Foundation
and I don't interfere with the running of Infosys.
I teach Computer Science to MBA and MCA students at Christ college for a
few
hours every week and I earn around Rs 50, 000 a year. I value this
financial
independence greatly though there is no need for me to pursue a teaching
career. Murty respects that. I travel all over the world without Murty
because he hates travelling. We trust each other implicitly. We have
another understanding too. While he earns the money, I spend it, mostly
through the charity. Philanthropy is a profession and an art... The
Infosys
Foundation was born in 1997 with the sole objective of uplifting the
less-privileged sections of society.
IN THE PAST THREE YEARS WE HAVE BUILT HOSPITALS, ORPHANAGES,
REHABILITATION CENTRES, SCHOOL BUILDINGS, SCIENCE CENTRES AND MORE THAN
3500 LIBRARIES. Our work is mainly in the rural areas amongst women and
children. I am one of the trustees and our activities span six states
including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Orissa, Chandigarh and
Maharashtra. I travel to around 800 villages constantly. Infosys
Foundation
has a minimal staff of three trustees and three office members.
We all work very hard to achieve our goals and that is the reason why
Infosys Foundation has a distinct identity. Every year we donate around
Rs 5- 6 crore (Rs 50 - 60 million). We run Infosys Foundation the way
Murty
runs Infosys in a professional and scientific way. Philanthropy is a
profession and an art. It can be used or misused. We slowly want to
increase
the donations and we dream of a time when Infosys Foundation could
donate
large amounts of money. Every year we receive more than 10,000
applications
for donations.
Everyday I receive more than 120 calls. Amongst these, there are those
who
genuinely need help and there are hood winkers too. I receive letters
asking me to donate Rs five lakh to someone because five lakh is, like
peanuts to Infosys. Some people write to us asking for free Infosys
shares.
Over the years I have learnt to differentiate the wheat from the chaff,
though I still give a patient hearing to all the cases. Sometimes I
feel
I have lost the ability to trust people. I have become shrewder to
avoid
being conned.
It saddens me to realize that even as a person is talking to me I try
to
analyse them: Has he come here for any donation? Why is he praising my
work
or enquiring about my health, does h e want some money from me? Eight
out
of ten times I am right. They do want my money. But I feel bad for the
other two whom I suspected. I think that is the price that I have to
pay
for the position that I am in now. The greatest difficulty in having
money
is teaching your children the value of it and trying to keep them on a
straight line....
Bringing up children in a moneyed atmosphere is a difficult task. EVEN
TODAY I THINK TWICE IF I HAVE TO SPEND RS 10 ON AN AUTO WHEN I CAN WALK
UP
TO MY HOUSE. I cannot expect my children to do the same. They have seen
money from the time they
were born. But we can lead by example. When they see Murty wash his own
plate after eating and clean the two toilets in the house everyday they
realise that no work is demeaning irrespective of how rich you are. I
DON'T HAVE A MAID AT HOME BECAUSE I DON'T SEE THE NEED FOR ONE. When
children see both parents working hard, living a simple life, most of
the
time they tend to follow.
This doesn't mean we expect our children to live an austere life. My
children buy what they want and go where they want but they have to
follow
certain rules. They will have to show me a bill for whatever they buy.
My
daughter can buy five new outfits but she has to give away five old
ones.
My
son can go out with his friends for lunch or dinner but if he wants to
go
to a five star hotel, we discourage it. Or we accompany him. So far my
children haven't given me any heartbreak. They are good children. My
eldest
daughter is studying abroad, whereas my son is studying in Bangalore.
They
don't use their father's name in vain. If asked, they only say that his
name is Murty and that he works for Infosys. They don't want to be
recognised and appreciated because of their father or m e but for
themselves.
I DON'T FEEL GUILTY ABOUT HAVING MONEY FOR WE HAVE WORKED HARD FOR IT.
BUT
I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE FLAUNTING IT... IT IS A CONSCIOUS DECISION ON
OUR
PART TO LIVE A SIMPLE, SO- CALLED MIDDLE CLASS LIFE. WE LIVE IN THE
SAME
TWO- BEDROOM, SPARSELY FURNISHED HOUSE BEFORE INFOSYS BECAME A SUCCESS.
Our
only extravagance is buying books and CDs. MY HOUSE HAS NO LOCKERS FOR
I
HAVE NO JEWELS. I WEAR A STONE EARRING WHICH I BOUGHT IN BOMBAY FOR RS
100.
I don't even wear My mangalsutra until I attend some family functions
or
I am with my mother-in-law. I am not fond of jewellery or saris. Five
years
ago, I went to Kashi where tradition demands that you give up something
and
I gave up shopping. Since then I haven't bought myself a sari or gone
shopping. It is my friends who gift me with saris. Murty bought me a
sari
a
long time ago. It was not to my taste and I told him to refrain from
buying
saris for me
in the future. I am no good at selecting men's clothes either. It is my
daughter who does the shopping for us. I still have the same sofa at
home,
which my daughter wants to change. However, we have indulged ourselves
with
each one having their own music system and computer. I don't carry a
purse
and neither does Murty most of the time. I do tell him to keep some
small
change with him but he doesn't. I borrow money from my secretary or my
driver if I need cash. They know my habit so they always carry extra
cash
with them. But I settle the accounts every evening. MURTY AND I ARE VERY
COMFORTABLE WITH OUR LIFESTYLE AND WE DON'T SEE THE NEED TO CHANGE IT.
NOW
THAT WE HAVE MONEY.
Murty and I are two opposites that complement each other... Murty is
sensitive and romantic in his own way. He always gifts me books
addressed
to From Me to You. Or to the person I most admire etc. We both love
books.
We are both complete opposites. I am an extrovert and he is an
introvert.
I
love watching movies and listening to classical music. Murty loves
listening
to English classical music. I go out for movies with my students and
secretary every other week. I am still young at heart.
I really enjoyed watching "Kaho Na Pyaar Hai" and I am a Hrithik Roshan
fan. It has been more than 20 years since Murty and I went for a movie.
My daughter once gave us a surprise by booking tickets for Titanic.
Since
I
had a prior engagement that day, Murty went for the movie with his
secretary Pandu. I love travelling whereas Murty loves spending time at
hom
e. Friends come and go with the share prices... Even in my dreams, I
did
not expect Infosys to grow like the way it has.
I don't think even Murty envisioned this phenomenal success, at least
not
in 1981. After Infosys went public in 1993, we became what people would
call as rich, moneyed people. I was shocked to see what was happening
to
Infosys and to us. Suddenly you see and hear about so much money. Your
name
and photo is splashed in the papers. People talk about you. It was all
new
to me.
SUDDENLY I HAVE PEOPLE WALKING UP TO ME SAYING, OH, WE WERE SUCH GOOD
FRIENDS, WE HAD A MEAL 25 YEARS AGO. THEY CLAIM TO HAVE BEEN PRESENT AT
OUR
WEDDING (WHICH IS AN UTTER LIE BECAUSE ONLY MY FAMILY WAS
PRESENT AT MY WEDDING). I DON'T EVEN KNOW ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO CLAIM TO
KNOW MURTY AND ME SO WELL. But that doesn't mean I don't have true
friends. I do have genuine friends, a handful, who have been with me
for
a
very long time. My equation with these people has not changed and vice
versa.
I am also very close to Narayan Murty's family, especially my
sister-in-law
Kamala Murty, a school teacher, who is more of a dear friend to me. I
have
discovered that these are the few relationships and friendships that
don't
fluctuate depending on the price of Infosys shares. Have I lost my
identity
as a woman, in Murty's shadow?... No.
I might be Mrs Narayan Murty. I might be Akshata and Rohan's mother. I
might be the trustee of Infosys Foundation. But I am still Sudha..I
play
different roles like all w omen. That doesn't mean we don't have our
own
identity. Women have that extra quality of adaptability and learn to
fit
into different shoes. But we are our own selves still. And we have to
exact our freedom by making the right choices in our lives, dictated by
us
and not by the world. SUDHA URTHY Habitat for Humanity
International
Success is when I add value to myself. Significance is when I add value
to
others. - JCM
Sent by Mr.K.VENKATA RAVI SEKHAR
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