N. R. Narayana Murthy, born on 20th August 1946 in Sidlaghatta, Karnataka, is one of India's most powerful business leaders and the man behind Infosys, which played a major role in positioning India as a world IT power. He earned his bachelor's in electrical engineering from the National Institute of Engineering, Mysuru, in 1967 and a master's degree from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur in 1969. He started his career as a Chief Systems Programmer at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad before shifting to Patni Computer Systems in Pune. But his real legacy started in 1981, when he along with six fellow colleagues founded Infosys with his wife Sudha Murty providing the intial funding of ₹10,000.

With Murthy as its leader, Infosys grew into a giant IT startup. During his tenure as CEO, from 1981 to 2002, he launched the Global Delivery Model that changed the business of IT outsourcing, and India became a hub for the industry. Infosys was the first Indian company to be listed on NASDAQ in 1999, followed by other Indian IT companies. He also established employee stock options (ESOPs) in India, which facilitated wealth creation and employee empowerment. Murthy remained a chairman from 2002 to 2011 and then took over as chairman emeritus.

Murthy has also remained a force outside Infosys. His recent suggestion of a 70-hour workweek to improve India's economic productivity raised wide debate, indicating that he is not yet done with his efforts to influence the nation's work ethos.He continues to be a source of inspiration for young entrepreneurs, with emphasis on value creation in the long term and ethical corporate governance.

Personal life

Married to author and philanthropist Sudha Murthy, Murthy is also the father of entrepreneur Rohan Murthy and businesswoman Akshata Murthy, who is wedded to former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Although he has retired from active corporate positions, his influence on India's IT sector and corporate culture continues to shape the country's economic growth and technological advancement.

Awards & Honors

His work has been universally acclaimed in India's business world. In 2000, he was awarded the Padma Shri (India's fourth-highest civilian award) and in 2008, the Padma Vibhushan (India's second-highest civilian award). His impact internationally was also noted with France conferring on him the Legion of Honour in 2008. He is the Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) 2007. He was also Ernst & Young's 2003 Entrepreneur of the Year and appeared on Fortune's Greatest Entrepreneurs of Our Time in 2012.