She went from a "middle-class background" to one of India's richest women. Author-philanthropist Sudha Murty told Brut what an upgrade in lifestyle meant for her.
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00:00Since 25 years, I stopped buying sarees. 27 years back, actually.
00:04Making a big wedding, I think it's a headache.
00:06It is one of the most uncomplicated, simple, middle-class, rural background house.
00:30Everybody had a family tree and a family forest.
00:33There were lots of cousins and we exchanged many things.
00:37And it is one of the most uncomplicated, simple, middle-class, rural background house.
00:47At that time, it was like that.
00:49Every small thing was a joy.
00:51A good rain was a joy.
00:53Any guest coming home was a joy.
00:55Any festival was a joy.
00:57Everything was a joy.
00:59Because our expectations were low in life, I upgraded my lifestyle a lot.
01:04I have lots of books.
01:05Look at the back.
01:06Look at my shelf.
01:07Initially, I was not able to afford to buy books.
01:11Now, today, I can buy any book, any number of copies.
01:14That I see upgrading.
01:15Upgrading life.
01:17But what is your upgrade and what is my upgrade both are different.
01:20For me, upgrading is what I like, I want to upgrade.
01:23And my liking is for a search of knowledge.
01:26But most people upgrade means wearing a better saree.
01:29It was never my fascination.
01:31Making a big wedding, I think it's a headache.
01:33I and Murthy sat and decided, who are required in the wedding?
01:37Both parents on both sides.
01:39And siblings, immediate siblings.
01:41The rest of the people, not needed.
01:46Genuinely, I feel that rest of the people, it's good if they come.
01:51But if they're not there, it doesn't matter.
01:54So I said, we'll not call anybody.
01:56I think we made a wedding card, which was very unusual in my time, 1978, 45 years back.
02:01We wrote, Sudha Kulkarni and Narayan Murthy, this is to inform you,
02:05we are getting married on such and such a day.
02:06Please send your blessings.
02:08Did not invite anyone to come physically because we believed in that.
02:12And I'm very happy the way I lived because it gave me such a great happiness in my mind.
02:21Since 25 years, I stopped buying sarees.
02:2427 years back, actually.
02:261995 or 96, I stopped buying sarees.
02:30So what sarees I have since 40, 50 years, they're still with me.
02:33I take care of them.
02:35Older sarees.
02:36And then my sister and all, they wear saree and they use the sarees, they give it to me.
02:40So I have 100 plus sarees, I suppose.
02:42Old and new together.
02:44Not new.
02:44Actually, I don't have anything like extraordinary new.
02:47And I don't crave for it at all.