Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy reiterated his proposed workweek of 70 hours, saying that this would be necessary to raise the global stature of India. Attending the centenary celebration by Indian Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata, Murthy described it as “the most cultured place in the entire country”. He called young professionals of the country to work more rigorously for the sake of the nation.
Emphasizing the need to create jobs for 800 million Indians who depend on free rations, Murthy said, “If we are not in a position to work hard, then who will work hard?” He appealed to the youth to set high aspirations and compete with the best companies globally, NDTV reported.
Murthy shared that his political views changed over time. He started as a leftist during the Jawaharlal Nehru era, but when he saw developed nations, he was faced with the reality of India’s poverty and lack of basic infrastructure. He then turned to entrepreneurship because he believed that jobs creation was the way to take people out of poverty and stimulate the economy.
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Acknowledging critics who argue that a 70-hour workweek could cause burnout and harm personal lives, Murthy maintained that this level of dedication is essential for India to earn global respect. “Performance leads to recognition, recognition leads to respect, and respect leads to power,” he explained, as quoted by the Economic Times.
Murthy also called for “compassionate capitalism,” which would combine entrepreneurial zeal with social responsibility. He believes this approach can improve India’s infrastructure and make the country a model for successful capitalism in the world. This is a reiteration of his previous call for young Indians to work 70 hours a week to keep pace with rapidly advancing economies.
