An Uncommon Love brings out the best in both
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni‘s latest work, An Uncommon Love, is a biographical novel about the love, life, and the tremendous success of two engineers, Sudha Murty and Narayana Murthy, and the making of Infosys. It is a gripping tale of two extraordinary human beings who fell in love and supported each other to become the best version of themselves. The author’s prose is poignant and insightful, leaving no stone unturned to weave an exquisite tapestry of a love story spanning decades. She explores the unique personality traits of Sudha and Narayana that are a delight to read. For me, it was particularly rewarding to read this engaging account of two unassuming engineers, poles apart in personalities, yet two sides of the wonderful Kannadiga heritage who have enriched the lives of so many people and made India proud of their achievements.
Eat, Read, Love
It was the love of literature and the humanities that brought young Sudha to the apartment of a friend who wanted her to meet Murthy, a slim, bespectacled young man who had a vast collection of books. Murthy was so impressed by Sudha’s bright aura that he lent her books by his favorite authors George Mikes (pronounced Mikesh) and Jacques Monod. They would sit in cafes and restaurants discussing Murthy’s take on life over Chinese food at Chung Fa restaurant or enjoy late-night Basu Chatterjee movies often resulting in Sudha breaking her women’s hostel curfew. When Sudha accepted Murthy’s proposal in an autorickshaw, Murthy said that it was the happiest day of his life.
Pushing the boundaries
Murthy’s scholastic journey was fraught with disappointment at not being able to go to IIT Kanpur despite a scholarship because of his father’s financial challenges. But Murthy persevered in getting a solid education at the local engineering college. Later, he got a scholarship to IIT Kanpur again for postgraduate studies.
Life took a turn for Narayan Murthy when a work trip to France led him to hitchhike through Europe, where his experiences influenced him to adopt principles of capitalism with compassion; he wanted to set up a software company that would create jobs for Indian engineers.
In 1981, with a loan of just ₹10,000 from his wife Sudha, Narayan Murthy set off on his journey to build what is today the multinational software giant, Infosys.
I was particularly impressed by Sudha and how she wrote a persuasive postcard to JRD Tata and secured a job as the first female engineer at TELCO to work on the floor with machines, at a time when men thought that it would be “bad luck” to have a woman touch the machines. But her most impressive attributes were her eternal optimism, her frugal habits, her ability to come to her husband’s rescue by being his best advocate, scientific guide, angel investor, and homemaker, shouldering the responsibilities of raising their children by herself with the help of her parents and sister.
The fruits of their powerful relationship, deep intelligence, limitless dreams, and groundbreaking entrepreneurship are written in letters of gold.
A celebration of love, ambition, and the human spirit
Divakaruni’s narrative unfolds against the backdrop of India’s evolving business landscape, offering a glimpse into the trials and triumphs of entrepreneurship when India was skeptical of global ventures. Sudha’s transition from a career-driven woman to a devoted mother reflects the sacrifices and resilience required to balance personal and professional aspirations.
Her narrative skillfully intertwines personal anecdotes with historical context, immersing readers in the world of the Murthys and their pioneering efforts in Indian business. Through their journey, we witness the tenacity and strategic vision that propelled them toward success.
Divakaruni’s prose captures the essence of Sudha and Narayana’s extraordinary journey, leaving readers inspired by their resilience and unwavering commitment to each other.
An Uncommon Love is a celebration of love, ambition, and the indomitable human spirit.
My takeaway from this beautiful book about two larger-than-life human beings that I read in one sitting is the quote from the Bhagavad Gita that Sudha often shared with her children: Uddhared atmanatmanam/natmanam- avasadayet/atmaiva by atmano bandhur/atmaiva ripur atmanah– Elevate yourself through the power of your mind, and do not degrade yourself, for the mind can be the friend and also the enemy of self.