Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy has once again defended his previous comment about a 70-hour workweek, stressing the need for young people in India to work hard to make the country a global leader.
Speaking during a visit to Kolkata, which he called “the most cultured place in the entire country,” Murthy reiterated the importance of striving for excellence. At the Indian Chamber of Commerce centenary event on Sunday, Murthy told RPSG Group chairman Sanjiv Goenka that young Indians must set their aspirations high. "If we are not in a position to work hard, then who will?" Murthy asked, adding that Infosys always aimed to compete with the best global companies.
Reflecting on his journey to becoming an entrepreneur, Murthy shared how his initial Leftist ideology, influenced by India’s socialist era under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, shifted during his time in Paris in the 1970s.
Murthy emphasised that embracing capitalism could lead to improved infrastructure, such as better roads and trains, which were lacking in India at the time. He called this approach "compassionate capitalism," a system that combines capitalism with the best elements of liberalism and socialism to help India prosper.
Urging young people to work towards India’s global respect, Murthy spoke about the importance of performance in garnering recognition, which in turn leads to respect and power. He challenged his audience to dedicate their lives to realizing their full potential, noting that a Chinese worker is 3.5 times more productive than an Indian, and urged them to avoid complacency. "It is very easy for us to write all kinds of nonsense and remain wretched, filthy, and poor," Murthy warned. "We must work hard to fulfill the vision of our founding fathers and elevate India’s global stature."
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