“Narayana Murthy Reaffirms Support for 70-Hour Workweek, Stresses the Importance of Hard Work for India’s Success”
Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy has once again defended his stance on the importance of a 70-hour workweek, urging young Indians to adopt a strong work ethic in order to elevate the nation to global prominence. Speaking at the centenary launch event of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata, Murthy emphasized the need for hard work, noting that India has significant progress to make.
Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy has once again defended his stance on the importance of a 70-hour workweek, urging young Indians to adopt a strong work ethic in order to elevate the nation to global prominence. Speaking at the centenary launch event of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata, Murthy emphasized the need for hard work, noting that India has significant progress to make.
“At Infosys, I said we will compare ourselves with the best global companies. And once we do that, I can tell you, we Indians have a lot of work to do,” Murthy stated, emphasizing the need to set high aspirations. He pointed to the fact that 800 million Indians still receive free rations, underscoring the country’s ongoing battle against poverty. Murthy highlighted that if India does not embrace hard work, the situation will remain unchanged.
Murthy reflected on his journey and shared how his views evolved over time. Recalling his early leftist leanings, influenced by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s era, Murthy revealed that his experiences abroad in the early 1970s made him question India’s situation. He recalled the stark contrast he witnessed between India, with its poverty and infrastructural challenges, and the prosperity of Western nations.
His encounter with the leader of the French Communist Party left him with unanswered questions, eventually leading him to a profound realization. “The only way a country can fight poverty is by creating jobs that lead to disposable incomes. The government has absolutely no role in entrepreneurship,” Murthy said. He came to believe that entrepreneurship, rather than government intervention, is key to generating wealth and driving national progress.
Murthy described his commitment to “compassionate capitalism” as the solution for India. He explained that embracing capitalism, combined with elements of liberalism and socialism, would enable India to build a prosperous nation with good roads, infrastructure, and a thriving economy.
Reflecting on his deep connection to Kolkata, Murthy praised the city’s rich cultural heritage. He expressed admiration for iconic figures such as Rabindranath Tagore, Satyajit Ray, Subhash Chandra Bose, and Amartya Sen, calling Kolkata “the most cultured place in the country.”
Murthy’s vision for India’s future is clear—he believes that hard work, entrepreneurial spirit, and the pursuit of excellence will lead the country to global recognition. “Performance leads to recognition, recognition leads to respect, and respect leads to power,” Murthy asserted. He also noted the higher productivity levels of workers in China compared to India, urging the next generation to take their responsibilities seriously and work towards realizing India’s full potential.
The billionaire entrepreneur ended his speech with a call to action for the younger generation: “I want you to dedicate your lives to realizing your value. Let us all work hard to build a better India.”
Sources By Agencies
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