In a candid and thought-provoking discussion, Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy has ignited a nationwide debate by suggesting that the youth of India should be prepared to work 70 hours a week to elevate the nation’s work culture and compete effectively on the global stage.
Speaking on the inaugural episode of 3one4 Capital’s podcast ‘The Record,’ Murthy stressed the urgency of changing India’s work productivity. He argued that unless India’s youth commit to significantly more working hours, the country will struggle to catch up with economies that have seen remarkable progress over the past few decades.
In conversation with former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai, Murthy pinpointed India’s underwhelming work productivity, ranking among the lowest in the world. To bridge the gap with countries such as China, he drew parallels to Japan and Germany, which, post-World War II, encouraged their recoveries by fixing a culture of extended working hours and dedication.
The entrepreneur also discussed about other impediments to India’s progress, including government corruption and bureaucratic inefficiencies. He emphasized the necessity of minimizing these roadblocks for India to emerge as a global frontrunner.
Murthy implored today’s youth to take up the mantle of nation-building, proclaiming, “So, my request is that our youngsters must say, ‘This is my country. I’d like to work 70 hours a week.” He further drew attention to historical examples, remarking, “This is exactly what the Germans and Japanese did after the Second World War… they made sure that every German worked extra hours for a certain number of years.”
Underlining the critical role of discipline and enhanced productivity, Murthy expressed, “And that transformation has to come to youngsters because youngsters form a significant majority of our population at this point of time, and they are the ones who can build our country.”
While his remarks have sparked a lively debate across the nation, with varying opinions on the feasibility of such an extended workweek and its impact on work-life balance, Murthy’s call for a cultural shift in India’s work ethos is resonating with many who believe that a more committed and disciplined approach is necessary to take India to the next level of development.
“We need to be disciplined and improve our work productivity. I think unless we do that, what can poor government do? And every government is as good as the culture of the people. And our culture has to change to that of highly determined, extremely disciplined and extremely hard-working people,” said Narayana Murthy. “And that transformation has to come to youngsters because youngsters form a significant majority of our population at this point of time, and they are the ones who can build our country,” he added.