'Wrong number': Sudha Murty shares a heartwarming story about Abdul Kalam's unexpected call

Author, philanthropist, and Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty recently shared a surprising story about a phone call she once received from former President APJ Abdul Kalam. She initially thought it was a mistake. Taking to her official X account, she posted a picture of Abdul Kalam conferring her with the Padma Shri award in 2006 and explained her initial confusion, thinking the call was meant for her husband, Narayana Murthy, the founder of Infosys.

Mistaken Identity: Sudha Murty and Narayana Murthy

Once I received a call from Mr. Abdul Kalam, who told me that he reads my columns and enjoys them. pic.twitter.com/SWEQ6zfeu4

— Smt. Sudha Murty (@SmtSudhaMurty) June 25, 2024

 "One day, I got a call saying that Mr. Abdul Kalam wants to speak to you. I told the operator that this is a wrong number because I don't have anything with Abdul Kalam," Sudha Murty recounted in an audio clip she shared. 

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A Special Message from Abdul Kalam

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Sudha Murty recalled that she was then informed that Abdul Kalam specifically wanted to speak with her. "I got worried and wondered what have I done to receive a call from Abdul Kalam," she joked. The newly-elected Rajya Sabha MP revealed that Abdul Kalam had called to praise one of her columns. "He said he read my column on 'IT divide' and said he really loved it. It's a fantastic column. He said he always reads my columns," she added.

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Sudha Murty: A Life of Simplicity and Impact

Sudha Murty is famous for her charity work and her writing in both Kannada and English. Her novel "Dollar Bahu," written first in Kannada and later translated into English, was very popular and even turned into a TV series by Zee TV in 2001.

Born in a Deshastha Madhva Brahmin family in Karnataka, Sudha Murty stays close to her cultural roots. Her daughter, Akshata Murty, is married to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, which adds to the family's global influence.

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Sudha Murty has published over 150 books, challenging gender stereotypes along the way. Despite having a net worth of Rs 775 crore, she lives a simple life. Remarkably, she revealed that she hasn't bought a new saree in the past thirty years. This decision, based on her spiritual beliefs, started after a visit to Kashi where she decided to give up buying sarees as a significant offering. Since then, she only buys essential items.

Her husband, Narayana Murthy, who co-founded Infosys, also lives modestly despite being worth $4.6 billion (about Rs 38,410 crore) according to Forbes. Both are passionate readers and own around 20,000 books.

Sudha Murty’s sarees are special to her, as they are gifts from loved ones and NGOs she supports. This includes two hand-embroidered sarees from a group of abused women.

Sudha Murty's life and work continue to inspire many, reflecting the values of dedication, hard work, and humility. Her unexpected phone call from Abdul Kalam remains a testament to her impact and recognition in the literary world.