Jaipur:

Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrived in Jaipur on Friday to attend the city’s annual literary event, the Jaipur Literature Festival, which began on Thursday.

During the five-day event, which will end on February 3, Mr Sunak’s wife Akshata Murty, and her mother, Sudha Murty, who is a renowned author and Rajya Sabha MP, are scheduled to hold a session titled “My Mother, Myself”. The session will be held from 10 am to 10:50 am on Saturday, as per the programme schedule.

Sudha Murty is the wife of Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy.

Mr Sunak, who stepped down as Conservative Party leader in the wake of a bruising electoral defeat in July last year, is a member of Parliament for Richmond and Northallerton in Yorkshire.

The 18th edition of the renowned literature festival is being held at Hotel Clarks Amer in the Pink City. The event brings together leading voices from literature, politics, science and the arts, and serves as a forum for diverse perspectives and meaningful exchange.

This year’s event features a lineup of over 300 luminaries such as Nobel laureates, Booker Prize-winners, journalists, policymakers, and acclaimed writers.

The participants include Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Dufflo, Amol Palekar, Amitabh Kant, Eric Garcetti, Kailash Satyarthi, Javed Akhtar, Rahul Bose, Yuvan Aves, Shahu Patole and Kallol Bhattacharjee.

New Delhi:

On a three-day visit to the Maha Kumbh, Philanthropist Sudha Murty helped serve the Mahaprasad in the ISKCON camp at Prayagraj. Wearing a green saree, and a black bag on her shoulders, Ms Murty is seen standing at the food counter, distributing chapattis to devotees visiting the Maha Kumbh.

Prayagraj | #Watch: Sudha Murthy helps serve the Mahaprasad in the ISKCON camp at Prayagraj#MahaKumbh2025 pic.twitter.com/NJjWykSxn8

— NDTV (@ndtv) January 22, 2025

In another video, Ms Murty is seen taking a tour of the ISKCON Mahaprasadam Kitchen and interacting with the volunteers, understanding how the food is prepared using machines.

Prayagraj | #Watch: Sudha Murthy touring the ISKCON Mahaprasadam Kitchen at Mahakumbh 2025, Prayagraj.#MahaKumbh2025 pic.twitter.com/whSSmzCMiz

— NDTV (@ndtv) January 22, 2025

Adani Group in collaboration with ISKCON is distributing Mahaprasad to more than 40 thousand devotees every day in the Maha Kumbh Mela area. ISKCON has undertaken the task of preparing the Mahaprasad in its kitchen built in Sector 19 of Prayagraj.

The kitchen, used to prepare Mahaprasad, is equipped with modern facilities like boilers to heat water and boil vegetables and rice. Tracks have been laid to carry heavy food containers. Three big machines have been installed to make rotis. Together, these machines prepare 10,000 rotis in an hour.

Excited Ms Murty arrived in Prayagraj on Monday. Calling Maha Kumbh a “Teerthraj”, Ms Murty said, “I am happy, excited and hopeful.”

Ms Murty took a holy dip in the Sangam on the first two days of her visit and intends to take it on the last day as well. Speaking to the news agency ANI, she said, “My maternal grandfather, maternal grandmother, grandfather, none of them could come – that is why I have to offer tarpan in their name and I am very happy…”

People visiting the Maha Kumbh Mela take a holy dip at Sangam Triveni, believed to wash away their sins. The religious congregation which began on January 13 will continue till February 26 and is expected to host 45 crore people.

Claim: The video shows Sudha Murty promoting a trading platform.
Fact: The claim is false. The video has been digitally manipulated and is a deepfake.

In recent years, online trading, especially in cryptocurrencies, has gained immense popularity in India, attracting millions of users with promises of quick profits.

In this context, a video allegedly showing Sudha Murty-celebrated author and philanthropist-endorsing a trading platform is viral on social media. A Facebook user shared a video in which she appears to praise the platform and encourage viewers to join, promising significant financial returns.

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the claim is false. The video featuring Sudha Murty endorsing online trading is a deepfake.

In the video, Sudha Murty appears to discuss financial investments, with her lip movements matching the audio.

A reverse image search led us to a video uploaded on the Infosys YouTube channel titled ‘Listen to Sudha Murty as Infosys commemorates four decades of excellence’, published on December 27, 2022.

In the video, Sudha Murty reflects on Infosys’ 40-year journey, sharing personal stories about her faith in her husband, NR Narayana Murthy, and the pivotal moments that led to Infosys’ success. She also discusses the founding and work of the Infosys Foundation, highlighting its contributions and values.

NewsMeter also ran the viral video through several advanced AI detection tools, which confirmed that the video was generated by AI (Artificial Intelligence). Hive Moderation declared that 99 per cent of the content was manipulated. TrueMedia also provided evidence of substantial manipulation. Furthermore, Deepware flagged the video as suspicious during its scan, providing additional confirmation of its artificial origin.

Hence, we conclude that the claim is false.

The video showing Sudha Murty endorsing a trading platform is a deepfake.

Claim Review: The video shows Sudha Murty promoting a trading platform.
Claimed By: Social Media User
Claim Reviewed By: NewsMeter
Claim Source: Facebook
Claim Fact Check: False
Fact: The claim is false. The video has been digitally manipulated and is a deepfake.

(This story was originally published by NewsMeter, and republished by NDTV as part of the Shakti Collective)

New Delhi:

The world of music is mourning Ustad Zakir Hussain, widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential tabla players of all time.

The legendary musician died due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung disease. The news was confirmed by Jon Bleicher of Prospect PR, representing the family.

From celebrities to cabinet ministers, tributes poured in to honour the tabla maestro. Rajya Sabha member Sudha Murty expressed her deep sorrow at his death, crediting him with introducing the tabla to Western audiences.

“Hearing of Zakir Hussain’s death brings me immense pain. He introduced the beauty of the tabla to the Western world. He was a good human being, and I knew him personally. It is a great loss to India and the music world,” said Sudha Murty while speaking to ANI.

Ustad Zakir Hussain’s death marks the end of an era in world music. His extraordinary career, spanning nearly six decades, elevated the tabla from a supporting instrument in Indian classical music to a leading voice on the global stage.

Renowned for his virtuosity and emotive expression, Hussain was not just a performer but also a cultural ambassador who bridged the gap between traditional Indian rhythms and global musical genres.

Born on March 9, 1951, in Mumbai, Zakir Hussain was the son of iconic tabla master Ustad Alla Rakha. From a young age, he demonstrated an exceptional talent for the tabla, gaining recognition early in life. By his teenage years, he was already performing alongside some of the greatest Indian classical musicians.

Throughout his illustrious career, Ustad Zakir Hussain collaborated with some of the most iconic names in both Indian and international music. He worked with legends such as Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Vilayat Khan and played a pivotal role in forming international fusion bands like Shakti with guitarist John McLaughlin and Planet Drum with Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart.

His collaboration on the Planet Drum album earned him a Grammy Award, one of many accolades in his remarkable career.

Zakir Hussain’s contributions to music were celebrated with numerous prestigious honours, including the Padma Shri (1988) and Padma Bhushan (2002) from the Indian government, along with four Grammy Awards.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

London:

Well-known author and Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty has spoken of her pride in son-in-law Rishi Sunak, a British citizen with “good Indian cultural values” imbibed from his parents’ upbringing in the UK.

Sudha Murty joined Rishi Sunak and her daughter Akshata Murty as the guest of honour at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s annual Diwali gala in London on Saturday evening.

The parents of the British Indian former prime minister, Usha and Yashvir Sunak, were also in the audience as Bhavan UK students showcased a variety of Indian classical music and dance forms.

“I always believe when you are abroad, your parents must do two things: one is good education, which gives you wings in return and you can fly anywhere and settle; the second is great culture, your origin which is Indian origin or roots which you can get at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan along with your parents,” said Sudha Murty, delivering her keynote address.

“I want to congratulate Ushaji, my sambandhi and a good friend of mine, who gave her son Rishi Sunak, former prime minister, a great route to identify with the culture, making him a proud British citizen as well as [having] good Indian cultural values,” she said.

The philanthropist went on to appeal to the British Indian community to enable the work of Bhavan UK’s cultural activities, “mentally, physically and financially”.

“You must send your children here to understand Indian culture because when you grow old you go towards your roots… that gap is addressed by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, so you have to help them in every way to survive,” said the staunch supporter of the cultural centre over the years.

Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, reflected upon Murty’s writings which inspire readers to be true to themselves because our “origin story matters” as he went on to trace the pan-Indian message of Diwali.

“The Krishna story is relevant to Diwali in the south, just as the ‘Ramayana’ story and the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya from Lanka is connected to the Diwali story of the north and the story of Kali Puja is connected with the story of Diwali in the east,” he said.

“Diwali connects up with the Sikh tradition, with the Jain and Buddhist traditions too. It tells us that light also means there is no such thing as a single certainty because in the light you recognise the diversity of the human condition, the diversity of everything we live with. So, in a world in which we spend our time fighting about certainties, it is a really good idea to look at Diwali as an opportunity to consider how so many things look differently in the light.” Subhanu Saxena, chairman of The Bhavan UK, and Executive Director Dr M.N. Nandakumara opened the event with Vedic chants as they highlighted the cultural centre’s many achievements over the years as a centre of excellence in Indian arts, music, dance, Yoga and languages, offering over 120 classes across 23 different subject areas.

Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murty presented mementoes to the team behind the centre’s many activities since the 1970s.

Its students and teachers showcased their Kuchipudi, Kathak and Bharatanatyam skills at the annual Diwali celebration as they appealed for donations from the British Indian community to enhance their summer school and scholarship offerings.

“The Bhavan UK is a great organisation promoting Indian culture and deserves our full support,” said NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul, one of the many supporters of the centre.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Sudha Murty, author-philanthropist and Rajya Sabha MP, on Thursday, paid homage to noted industrialist Ratan Tata, saying his death marked the “end of an era”, adding she felt “vacuumed in my personal life.”

“… In my life, I met him (Ratan Tata), a man of integrity, and simplicity, always caring for others and compassionate… I really miss him… I don’t think in my experience I met anyone like him. May I only pray, may his soul rest in peace. He was a legend, there was an era, but this is the end of an era for me,” Murty told ANI. 

Murty said that Tata was a “person of integrity,” which was so important.

“He was like that. He had enormous patience. He was a simple man… I learn philanthropy in the House of Tatas only. It’s my personal loss… I feel now vacuumed in my personal life,” she added.

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka | On the demise of Ratan Tata, author-philanthropist and Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty says, “… In my life, I met him (Ratan Tata), a man of integrity, and simplicity, always caring for others and compassionate… I really miss him… I don’t think in… pic.twitter.com/hDb6Qbfhau

— ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2024

Eighty-six-year-old Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus of Tata Sons and a philanthropist, died at the Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai on October 9.

According to reports, he was admitted to the hospital in a critical condition. 

“It is with a profound sense of loss that we bid farewell to Mr Ratan Naval Tata, a truly uncommon leader whose immeasurable contributions have shaped not only the Tata Group but also the very fabric of our nation,” Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Tata.

The President noted the country “lost an icon who blended corporate growth with nation building, and excellence with ethics.” 

Offering condolences to his family and the entire team of the Tata Group, she said Tata’s contribution to philanthropy and charity is “invaluable.” 

Prime Minister Modi also expressed his condolences on Tata’s death and said he was “a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being”.

Tata’s last rites will be performed with full state honours, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced on Thursday.

While PM Modi has left for Laos to attend the ASEAN-India and East Asia summits, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be at the late billionaire industrialist’s funeral.

Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty shared a message on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan and explained how it is an “important festival” for her and the value a thread or rakhi holds. The Infosys Chairman’s wife also shared the story behind the festival, which sparked a debate on social media platform X, with users differing from her.

“Raksha Bandha is an important festival for me, where a sister ties a thread indicating that in case of any difficulty, you should always be there to help me,” she said in a video message posted on X.

Raksha Bandhan has a rich history. When Rani Karnavati was in danger, she sent a thread to King Humayun as a symbol of sibling-hood, asking for his help. This is where the tradition of the thread began and it continues to this day. pic.twitter.com/p98lwCZ6Pp

— Smt. Sudha Murty (@SmtSudhaMurty) August 19, 2024

The wife of the Infosys Chairman shared the story behind the festival and said, “It goes back to when Rani Karnavati (from the Kingdom of Mewar) was in danger her kingdom was small and under attack. She did not know what to do. She sent a small piece of thread to Mughal Emperor Humayun and said I’m in danger please consider me as your sister. Please do come and protect me.”

Ms Murty said, “Humayun did not know what it was…he asked what is this and the locals said this is a call of a sister to a brother…this is the custom of the land,” adding, “The emperor said okay if this is the case then I will help Rani Karnavati. He left Delhi but couldn’t reach there on time and Karnavati died.”

“This idea is when you’re facing a threat or in distress. A thread indicates that somebody should come and help me and it means a lot…” she added.

However, several users on X differed and said the story goes back to the time of Mahabharat and not post-medieval India. Users said, that during the time of Mahabharat, Lord Krishna inadvertently cut his finger while using the Sudarshan chakra to kill King Shishupal. Draupadi covered the wound with a piece of cloth. 

With absolute respect Madam, the origin of Rakshabandan dates back to the Mahabharata times.

Lord Krishna once accidentally cut his find on the Sudarshan Chakra. Seeing him injured, Draupadi tore a piece of cloth from her saree and tied it to stop the bleeding. Touched by her…

— D Prasanth Nair (@DPrasanthNair) August 19, 2024

Lord Krishna was touched by her deed and promised to keep her safe from any harm. During the Chirharan incident, when the Kauravas tried to shame and dishonour Draupadi, Lord Krishna appeared and protected her when no one else could.

There are several stories on the history of the festival including the story of King Bali and Goddess Lakshmi. King Bali was a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu and he took the responsibility to protect Bali’s Kingdom for which he left Vikundam. Goddess Lakshmi wanted to stay with her husband Lord Vishnu. 

She tied Rakhi on King Bali’s wrist on the full moon day called Shravana Purnima. It is believed that since that day onwards it has become a custom to invite one’s sister on Shravana Purnima to tie an auspicious thread of Rakhi or Raksha Bandhan.

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today praised new Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty for her maiden speech in the House. Speaking during a discussion on the motion of thanks on the President’s Address in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Ms Murty spoke about women’s health.

Quoting her father, she said when a mother dies it is counted as one death in the hospital but for the family, a mother is lost forever.

“I want to thank Sudha Murty for speaking in detail about women’s health,” PM Modi said as the philanthropist-author stood up and greeted him.

While referring to Ms Murty’s “emotional” remark on mothers, he said his government has focused on women’s health and sanitation as a “priority sector” in the last 10 years.

भारत ने नारा नहीं, बल्कि निष्ठा के साथ Women Led Development की ओर कदम बढ़ाए हैं: PM @narendramodi#ParliamentSession#PMModiInRajyaSabha#ParliamentSession2024pic.twitter.com/rN1bcquKm3

— MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) July 3, 2024

“Our country’s women have benefited from the toilets we have made,” PM Modi said while replying to a debate on a motion thanking President Droupadi Murmu for her address to the joint sitting of Parliament last week.

He also said they have provided sanitary pads and initiated a vaccination program during pregnancy for women.

Sudha Murty’s Maiden Speech In Rajya Sabha

Sudha Murty pressed for a government-sponsored vaccination programme to combat cervical cancer.

“There is a vaccination which is given to girls, between the age of nine to 14, known as a cervical vaccination. If the girls take that, it (cancer) can be avoided … we should promote vaccination for the benefit of our girls because prevention is better than cure,” she said in her first speech in Rajya Sabha.

ALSO READ | Over 3.4 Lakh Cervical Cancer Cases In India In 2023

The government has handled a very “big vaccination drive during Covid” so it may not be very difficult to provide cervical vaccination to girls in the age group of 9-14 years, she said.

Ms Murty, who was nominated by President Droupadi Murmu to the upper house on the eve of International Women’s Day, said the cervical vaccination has been developed in the West and has been used for the last 20 years.

“It worked very well. It is not expensive. Today it is Rs 1,400 for people like me who are in the field. If the government intervenes and negotiates…you can bring it to Rs 700-800. We have such a large population. It will be beneficial for our girls in the future,” she said during her 13-minute address.