Indian Female Legend Humiliated In US: When And Why?

One of the most respected Indian tech entrepreneurs and philanthropist Sudha Murthy revealed the story about when she was absolutely humiliated at the airport in the United States.

Sudha Murty recently spoke in the Rajya Sabha during the discussion on the Union Budget and recounted a personal experience from her first visit to the United States in 1979.

She said that when she arrived at Boston Logan International Airport for immigration and customs clearance, she was subjected to a long series of questions by an immigration officer.

He asked her why she was travelling, how long she would stay, if she had return tickets, where her husband lived in the U.S., and even what his salary was. When she said she planned to stay for six months with her husband, the official granted her a three-month stay without explanation.

Murty said that during customs checks, she was asked about her attire and treated in a manner that made her feel “sad and humiliated,” as though she were from a place with “no history, no culture, no money.” She pointed out that at the time, India’s global image was not well understood abroad and that such treatment reflected that misconception.

In contrast, she said her recent travel experiences to the U.S. and Canada have been much more respectful, with officers greeting her warmly and showing appreciation for Indians’ contributions to the world.