Narayana Murthy Defends '70-Hour Work Week' Remark: 'We Owe It To Less Fortunate'

Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy’s ’70-hour work week’ advice has stirred a lot of controversy of late, also finding a mention in governance where it was evaluated during the winter session of the Parliament last year. The remarks not only triggered debates but met with brick-bats and flowers, where several businesses agreed with the same while some raised concerns about adequate compensation. Days after all the deliberation, Narayana Murthy has finally opened up on the same, defending his controversial advice that stated that young Indians need to embrace a 70-hour work week.

Narayana Murthy in a recent interview with CNBC-TV18 clarified his stance and said that there is a need for hard work in a country where many endure demanding professions such as farming and factory work.

In his latest interaction, Murthy while facing questions about the backlash surrounding his recommendation addressed the criticism and said, “I rationalise it this way. When somebody has performed much better than me in their own field, I respect them and ask where did they find me wrong in this. But I didn’t find it. A lot of my western friends, NRIs, and good people in India have called me and they are very happy about it.”

Justifying his stance further, Murthy highlighted the hard work put in by the less privileged section in India, adding that people need to work hard in this country because poor farmers and factory workers work very hard. “Those of us who received education at a very huge discount, thanks to subsidies from the government, owe it to the less fortunate citizens of India to work harder,” he said.

Murthy’s wife Sudha Murthy who also joined the interview echoed a similar sentiment stating, “My father used to work more than 70 hours a week and my sister is a doctor. She also works the same way. Even Murthy has to work 90 hours a week.”

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Chiming into it, Murthy further gave a personal insight into his work routine recalling how he used to work six and a half days a week for 12-13 hours every day. “One thing I have followed is that whatever advice I have given to others, I think by and large I have followed it. I have not given advice to people without having done it myself,” he concluded.