Narayana and Sudha Murthy Decline Participation in Karnataka Caste Survey

Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy and his wife, Rajya Sabha MP and author Sudha Murty, have declined to participate in Karnataka's ongoing socio-economic and educational survey, commonly known as the caste census, asserting that their inclusion serves no purpose for the government's objectives. The high-profile couple, residing in Bengaluru's Jayanagar area, informed enumerators during a visit last week that they do not belong to any backward caste category, rendering their data irrelevant to the survey's focus on identifying under-represented communities for welfare and reservation policies.

In a self-attested letter dated October 10, signed by Murthy, they wrote in Kannada, "We and our family will not participate in the census... Hence, we are not taking part," emphasising that the exercise aims to spotlight backward classes, not affluent forward castes like theirs. This decision aligns with their public ethos of self-reliance and philanthropy, as seen through the Infosys Foundation's initiatives in education and rural development, but underscores the voluntary nature of the contentious survey amid broader debates on caste enumeration.

Karnataka's caste census, launched on September 22 under the Congress-led government, represents the state's most ambitious data-gathering effort since the national Socio-Economic Caste Census of 2011, costing an estimated Rs 420 crore and targeting 1.43 crore households. Designed by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, the survey features 60 main questions and 20 sub-questions covering caste, religion, income, education, and land ownership to inform policies on reservations and social justice.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, hailing from the backward Kuruba community, has championed the initiative as a tool for equitable resource allocation, extending deadlines to October 12 statewide and October 24 in Bengaluru due to technical glitches and resistance. As of early October, 83% of households—about 1.22 crore—have been covered, though urban areas like Greater Bengaluru lag at just 19.62%, hampered by logistical hurdles and public scepticism. The Karnataka High Court reinforced participation as optional in September, ruling that enumerators cannot compel responses and data must remain confidential, a stance that legally shields refusals like the Murthys'.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, whose Vokkaliga family fully cooperated during their enumeration, dismissed the Murthys' opt-out as a personal choice, stating, "This is everyone’s personal matter. We cannot force anyone into this. It is their own choice." The refusal has sparked mild online discourse, with some praising the couple's candour and others questioning the survey's efficacy if prominent figures abstain. Senior advocate B.V. Acharya recently echoed privacy concerns, advising against participation to avoid potential misuse of personal information.

Politically, the census remains divisive: While backward class leaders demand swift implementation for quota revisions—potentially affecting the 50% reservation cap—dominant castes like Lingayats and Vokkaligas fear data-driven dilutions of their influence, fuelling cabinet tensions and speculation of delays, as seen in the March 2025 budget omission. Nationally, it mirrors calls for a comprehensive caste census by opposition parties, absent from the 2025 national census blueprint.

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The Murthys, both from Kannada-speaking Brahmin families—Narayana from Sidlaghatta and Sudha from Shiggaon—epitomise upward mobility, with Narayana's Infosys journey from a Rs 10,000 seed (funded by Sudha) to a $100 billion empire symbolising merit over caste privileges. Their stance highlights a forward-caste reluctance in surveys meant for affirmative action, potentially influencing similar opt-outs among elites. As the exercise concludes, outcomes could reshape Karnataka's social fabric, but experts warn of implementation pitfalls, including data accuracy and political weaponisation, ahead of the 2028 elections. For now, the couple's polite rebuff—"Sorry, we will not be participating"—serves as a reminder of individual agency in collective data drives.

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