Narayana Murthy Defends 70-Hour Workweek

Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy has sparked a heated debate in the tech industry with his recent comments on the ideal workweek. In a statement that has left many professionals stunned, Murthy expressed his support for a 70-hour workweek, emphasising the need for hard work among young people to achieve the goal of marking India "number one."

Commenting on the Infosys inspiration, Murthy remarked, "At Infosys, I said we will go to the best and compare ourselves with the best global companies. Once we compare ourselves with the best global companies, I can tell you we Indians have a lot to do."

"We have to set our aspirations high because 800 million Indians get free rations. That means 800 million Indians are in poverty. If we are not in a position to work hard, then who will work hard?” he added.

He expressed his views during the Indian Chamber of Commerce’s centenary celebrations in Kolkata, which he described as “the most cultured place in the entire country.”

In the celebration, he also shared memories from his youth, recalling his admiration for Jawaharlal Nehru and socialism during the establishment of the Indian Institutes of Technology. In fact, he has also stressed that the importance of entrepreneurs is crucial in building a nation.