Narayana Murthy reiterates his stance on long working hours; invokes Modi to prove his point

Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy has once again expressed his disagreement with the widely debated concept of "work-life balance," reiterating his belief that India needs a stronger work ethic to achieve progress. Speaking at the CNBC Global Leadership Summit, Murthy clarified, “First of all, I do not believe in work-life balance,” standing by his earlier comments that had sparked much discussion.

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Murthy emphasized that India, as a developing nation, must prioritize hard work over concerns of balancing personal life with professional responsibilities. He criticized the country's shift from a six-day workweek to a five-day workweek in 1986, stating, “I am sorry, I have not changed my view. I will take this with me to my grave.”

To support his argument, Murthy referenced KV Kamath, who had suggested that India should focus on addressing its developmental challenges rather than worrying about work-life balance. Murthy also pointed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reputedly long work hours, saying, “When PM Modi is working that hard, the only way to show our appreciation for what’s happening around us is by working just as hard.”

Murthy concluded that a strong work ethic is vital for India to keep up with global competitors, underscoring that the country must put in extra effort to drive national progress.