It was on twitter that I had promised myself that ‘Uncommon Love’ is a must review book by me. Even though delayed this review is commissioned after I went through the entire book which is a stunning account of a senior citizen couple who are global role models.
“An Uncommon Love” by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni offers an earnest dive into the inspiring journey of Sudha and Narayana Murthy. Divakruni’s affectionate and revealing narrative presents the Murthys as a team whose perseverance, values, and mutual support drove them to build a legacy. They are not presented as ‘icons’ but as ‘individuals’.
The story begins with a young Sudha Kulkarni, a trailblazing engineer with ambitions unusual for women of her time. When she meets Narayana Murthy for the first time he is an idealist rooted in his socialist upbringing. From the highs of personal growth and love to the lows of early business failures, the book draws readers into the couple’s life. The book is dotted with anecdotes that highlight the resilience of the couple.
The narrative doesn’t shy away from the couple’s struggles. We see Sudha navigating the male-dominated halls of TELCO, often the only woman in the room. Meanwhile, Murthy wrestles with bureaucratic nightmares while trying to get Infosys off the ground. Through it all, their partnership remains their cornerstone. Though not without its tests and tensions.
Perhaps most refreshing is how Divakaruni captures their ordinariness alongside their extraordinary achievements. There’s humor in their domestic moments, wisdom in their parenting, and a remarkable lack of pretense in how they’ve handled their success. Its almost as if their commitment to ethical business practices and philanthropy comes across not as a corporate strategy but as a natural extension of their values.
The book stands out with its ability to show how great achievements often stem from simple, unwavering support between partners. It is an intimate portrayal showing how two people’s faith in each other can ripple out to transform countless lives. In an age of instant success stories, the Murthy’s gradual, value-driven journey offers a refreshingly different template for achievement.
The book showcases the journey of two commoners who went on to become the country’s most cherished ‘Power Couple’. It shows us how it takes a great deal of sweat, effort, support and belief in each other to make it to the top to be the country’s biggest tech giants. To all those who want to magically manifest a perfect match made in heaven, this book is a reminder of the sacrifices one has to make as a couple and be a pillar of support to one another to reach such great heights together. The words of Ms.Sudha Murthy serve as a reminder how much a partner needs to be an unconditional support to the other to be the much admired giant of a couple, “I want you to be like the trapeze artist in a circus and take a spectacular leap of faith. I’m willing to be your safety net.”