Philanthropist and author Sudha Murty recently refuted the extremely controversial statement of her husband, Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, that young Indians need to work 70 hours a week in order to boost productivity. In a conversation with NDTV’s show India Through the Eyes of Its Icons, Sudha Murty discussed Infosys’ initial days and the great dedication required in building a successful company.
The Sweats and Tears of the Success of Infosys
Sudha Murty had said in the interview that it was not an overnight success with Infosys. Rather, it was a product of hard work which was carried out consistently, and luck. She went on to remember that when the company was in its infancy stage, Narayana Murthy and his team would work more than 70 hours a week to mold Infosys and stabilize it.
Sudha Murty also pointed out that hard work cannot be escaped in most professions, even outside the corporate world. She mentioned journalists and doctors as examples whose long hours of work are spent trying to be the best in their profession. According to her, such dedication is needed when creating something worthwhile.
Personal Sacrifices for a Greater Cause
Sudha Murty also explained how she had to give up her personal life in such a way so that she can offer her space to her husband’s dream. She did the housework and raised the children in these years, so that Narayana Murthy can fully concentrate toward the growth of the organization.
She said that there are mentors behind every success story. To her, she decided to focus on taking care of family duties so that her husband could perform at his optimal level at Infosys. To her, in every relationship, there has to be support and understanding whenever one of the partners is putting in overtime.
The 70-Hour Workweek Debate
Narayana Murthy’s remark that he works 70 hours a week kicked off a sane debate on work-life balance. Some supported him, but others condemned it as encouraging an unhealthy and unrealistic work culture.
To clarify the controversy, Sudha Murty came forward in favor of her husband’s perception by recounting his own experience. She exposed that Narayana Murthy used to work 85-90 hours a week in the initial years of Infosys up to 1994. He is extremely sure that the ‘favored lot have to work extra hard in order to contribute back to society because their efforts can benefit the less favored lot’.
Nevertheless, the majority of contemporary business leaders challenge the contention by demanding some reasonable amount of work-life balance. In the recent past, there has been the request to lower working hours to 40 a week, as a measure of guaranteeing a healthier and sustainable workplace. Overtime working hours have been associated with burnout and lost productivity, thereby making the case an unshakeable one to change.
The Changing Attitudes
Work culture all over the world is changing, with greater emphasis on the well-being of employees and mental well-being. Sudha Murty may welcome the necessity of hard work and dedication, but she also knows that employees today expect a better work-life balance.
Meanwhile, while the debate rages on, Narayana Murthy remains unmoved in his conviction that hard work is what it takes to prosper. Along the way, hustle culture, burnout, and work-life balance are added to the mix for discussion. The challenge then becomes finding that middle ground—where passion and commitment converge with a good, healthy work environment.
While the long hours at work were a deciding point in the success of Infosys, the world now seeks fresh paradigms of measuring productivity and success in a new world.
A passionate writer, Niharika wants to create an impact as she believes that Journalism is not just a profession, but a passion to follow and live in. With a keen eye for storytelling and a commitment to impactful writing. she strives to inform, engage, and inspire through the pieces that she crafts. Niharika has covered the 38th National Games, getting to know the lives of athletes and players closely. When not writing she is listening to music, or browsing through social media for more meaningful topics to cover.
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