Let the story write itself, says Sudha Murty at JLF day 2

While writing a story or a poem, one must surrender to the writing, and let it pan out as it wants.

“When you are truthful in your writing, then only you can deeply connect to your readers,” said the loved author and philanthropist Sudha Murty. She was addressing the audience on the second day of the Jaipur Literature Festival in the session, My Books and Beliefs.

Murty, who prominently writes for children, is often addressed as national nani for the endearing stories she weaves for children.

“Whatever I talk, I walk too. What you see is as much as my writing and I are – nothing more. And, that’s why kids love to read my work.”

‘Who would marry you, Sudha?’

At a time when your gender would dictate your profession and life path, and career was only a side hobby for women, Murty decided to pursue applied sciences. Her family, who lived in Hubli,  were shocked by the decision. “My mother said – no one will marry you, Sudha! Little did she know that across the river existed Narayana Murthy.”

The import of her decision can be gauged by the fact that there were no women’s toilets in the college that she attended, and she was the only girl in her class. “They thought that I would elope with one of the boys from the class. No one would talk to me, It was as if I was untouchable.”

Contrary to everyone’s beliefs, she worked her charm and scored a classic first rank in the first semester. “After that, all the boys in class would want to borrow my notes. Funny how things change, right?”

My writing is totally independent of ‘Murthy’

She was quick to laugh it off when asked if women could do it all. “I don’t really know about that, but I’m very much thankful to Narayana Murthy for his money, so I could do good in charity. But my writing? It is independent of Murthy; it is just mine,” she signed off.