When the call came, I thought it was a wrong number", Sudha Murthy told why former President Kalam had called

Writer and social worker Rajya Sabha member Sudha Murthy said on Tuesday that she once received a call from former President APJ Abdul Kalam, headquartered in New Delhi, when the latter, as per her thinking, had misdialed. Murthy posted the picture of Kalam presenting the Padma Shri award to himself in 2006 on her official X account. She further said that she thought the call of the former President was for her husband and Infosys founder Narayan Murthy.

She said, 'One day, I got a call that Mr. Abdul Kalam wants to talk to you. I told the operator this is a wrong number because I have nothing to do with Abdul Kalam.' Murthy said this in an audio clip of a show. I told the operator that this could be a mistake and that the call was for Narayana Murthy. Instead of Murthy, you have been connected to Mrs Murthy\": She said.

I was told that Kalam has specifically asked to speak with me," said the former Infosys chairperson, Murthy. "I got worried and started thinking, what did I do to get a call from Abdul Kalam," she quipped.

The newly-elected Rajya Sabha member then revealed that Kalam had called to praise one of her columns. "He read my column on 'IT Divide' and said he liked it and it was a brilliant column. He always reads my columns," she said. Sudha Murthy has written many books, most of them for children. She is also an acclaimed contributor to Kannada and English literature. Murthy, 73, has received the Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar, Padma Shri in 2006, and Padma Bhushan in 2023. Earlier this year, he was nominated by President Draupadi Murmu to the Rajya Sabha. His daughter Akshata Murthy is married to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.