Indian Parliament
In a significant development, Sudha Murthy, the mother-in-law of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has been appointed to Indian parliament.
The 73-year-old, former chair of the Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic arm of tech giant Infosys co-founded by her husband N.R. Narayana Murthy in 1981, is celebrated for her contributions to social work, philanthropy, and education.
The announcement of Sudha Murthy’s nomination to the upper house was made by President Droupadi Murmu, and it was met with delight by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He praised her immense and inspiring contributions to diverse fields in a social media post.
Most members of India’s upper house are elected, but 12, often high achievers in public life, are nominated by the president for a six-year term. Sudha Murthy’s appointment took immediate effect.
An engineer by training, Sudha Murthy is also a renowned author, and her foundation is credited with establishing libraries in rural areas.
Last year, the Indian government conferred upon her the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honor, recognizing her distinguished career in social work.
Sudha Murthy’s husband, Narayana Murthy, has an estimated net worth of $4.7 billion, according to Forbes.
He co-founded Infosys, which is now India’s seventh-largest company by market cap and the first Indian firm to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
The appointment comes at a time when India commemorates its 75th anniversary of independence from Britain.
Rishi Sunak, Sudha Murthy’s son-in-law, became the first British prime minister of South Asian descent in 2022, marking a significant milestone in India’s relationship with its former colonial ruler. The family’s ties now span international political and business spheres.
