Narayana Murthy on his 70-hour work week feedback: “I’m sorry I’ve not modified….”

Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy refused to again down from his controversial stance on prolonged working hours, providing an unapologetic “I’m sorry, I’ve not modified my view.” The tech veteran, who sparked nationwide debate final yr by urging Indian youth to work 70-hour weeks, declared he would take this perception “to my grave.”
“I do not consider in work-life steadiness… I’ve not modified my view,” Murthy advised CNBC-TV18 on the World Management Summit. He cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s reported 100-hour workweeks, suggesting residents ought to match such dedication. “I’ll take this with me to my grave,” he added.
“I’m sorry, I’ve not modified my view. I’ll take this with me to my grave,” he added, standing agency on his controversial stance from final yr that sparked nationwide debate on office tradition.
He maintains that his controversial recommendation stems from private expertise. The 78-year-old tech pioneer revealed his personal rigorous work schedule throughout his tenure at Infosys, arriving on the workplace at 6:20 AM and leaving at 8:30 PM, working six and a half days weekly till retirement. “I am pleased with it,” he said.
Murthy expressed dissatisfaction with India’s 1986 transition from a six-day to five-day workweek. “I used to be not very pleased with that. I believe on this nation, we have now to work very exhausting as a result of there is no such thing as a substitute for exhausting work even if you happen to’re essentially the most clever man,” he emphasised.
The assertion follows his feedback from final yr in an dialog with Mohandas Pai urging Indian youth to work 70 hours weekly to spice up nationwide productiveness and compete globally. “India’s work productiveness is among the lowest on the earth… So subsequently, my request is that our kids should say, ‘that is my nation, I need to work 70 hours per week,’” Murthy stated.
These remarks sparked intense debate throughout business sectors, drawing each criticism and help from enterprise leaders.
This isn’t the primary time Murthy has defended his place. He had highlighted earlier that he labored 85-90 hours weekly till 1994 when Infosys maintained a six-day schedule. He argued that people who acquired subsidised training have an obligation to work tougher for India’s much less privileged residents.
His spouse, Sudha Murty, has additionally supported his stance by sharing that her father exceeded 70 working hours weekly, and her sister, a physician, maintains related hours.
Murthy says that he acquired help from numerous quarters: “Quite a lot of my western mates, a number of NRIs, and a number of good folks in India referred to as me, and with out exception, they have been all very pleased with my recommendation.”
The tech veteran has persistently emphasised India’s want to extend work productiveness to compete with quickly growing nations, advocating for lowered bureaucratic delays and corruption whereas encouraging youth to embrace longer working hours.