As the name says, The Circle of Life is a session where Sudha Murty spoke about how the book is a “recreation for her.”
The first session to begin at the Open Cell for the day had all the elements of a master class from a professor of life. It opened with Sudha Murty wishing everyone in Kannada, as the proud Kannadiga she is. She set the tone for the session with her familiar wit, even taking a gentle jab at Indigo.
She began with a moment of nostalgia, recalling her visit to the same place in 1998 when she taught computer science to prisoners at this former jail, which now thrives as a space for ideas, conversations and learning.
Speaking about her new book, she said it is a rewritten version of her earlier book Yashashwi (1996). The core idea remains the same, but she believes her perspective on life has changed, which led her to rewrite it again in 2025. The book follows the rise and fall of five characters whose values shift as life shapes them, almost like a sculptor reshaping them. She spoke about how no institution or relationship decides the trajectory of life. She said life is decided ten percent by our efforts, ten percent by circumstances and the remaining eighty percent is completely out of our control.
When asked how she maintained the arc of these characters,she quipped that she used a matrix and an excel sheet, something that was natural for the engineer she once was.
Speaking about character development, she said that she draws from her own life. She meets people, speaks with them and uses about ten percent of what they share, building the rest from her own understanding. The most difficult character for her was Aravind Shah, who goes through a complete change in personality.
About her writing process in general, she explained that she prefers writing her novels in Kannada on pen and paper in shorthand, like a traditional author, and types her short stories to satisfy the computer science engineer in her.
When asked how she finds her stories, she said, “Experiences always direct me.” She added, “The subject is the master and I am the servant.”
As always, Sudha Murty shared her wisdom through simple lines that stay with you. She said, “Irrespective of position and time, every human is the same inside.”
No session in the present day ends without a question on AI. When asked about it, she replied that AI misses emotion and that the power of human touch can never be replaced.
When asked about writing children’s books, she playfully said that the tata and tayi (grandfather and grandmother) are often caught up in daily soaps, and parents are busy with the ups and downs of work and finances. Through her stories, she hopes to give children a guiding light, the same way she would for her granddaughter.
When asked how she writes characters who do not align with her value system, she said she usually does not. Even when she attempts it, it is difficult for her. She believes, “The one with a strong value system does not sway with the happenings around.”
The session brought together Sudha Murty’s thoughts on life, writing and the experiences that guide her. With her mix of humour and wisdom, she gave the audience a quiet reminder that stories begin with what we live and who we become.
Sharmila Giduthuri
Sharmila works in the automotive domain as a Senior Research Engineer at Mercedes Research and Development. She has been an active member of several non-profit organisations since 2019. She is currently writing her first book and also works as a freelance graphic designer.