Sudha Murty says husband Narayana Murthy 'has worked 80 to 90 hours a week'

Sudha Murty said that everyone has their own working styles and ways of expression, and that Narayana Murthy had spoken from his own experience. (File photo)

Sudha Murthy has defended her husband and Infosys founder Narayana Murthy after he sparked a debate on advising a “70 hours-a-week” work formula to youngsters to increase India's overall productivity.

Speaking to News18, the author and head of Infosys Foundation said that Narayana Murthy himself has worked for 80 to 90 hours a week and was only sharing his experience.

"He has worked 80 to 90 hours a week, so, he doesn’t know what less than that is. He believes in real hard work and he lived like that. Hence, he has told what he felt," Sudha Murthy said, adding that her husband believes in passion and “real hard work”.

On being asked if she tried telling him how things work in corporate set-ups these days, Murty replied, “People have different ways of expression. But he lived like that, he had walked the talk. So, he has shared his experience."

Narayana Murthy sparked an uproar on social media after he appeared on a podcast and suggested 70-hour work weeks to youngsters. In conversation with former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai, Murthy said that India’s work productivity is among the lowest in the world. In order to compete with countries like China, India’s youngsters must put in extra hours of work – as Japan and Germany did after World War 2.

“So therefore, my request is that our youngsters must say, ‘This is my country. I’d like to work 70 hours a week'," the 77-year-old said.

Social media experts, medical professionals, and other business leaders, however, pointed out that such routines would lead to cardiac issues and stress-related complications, not to mention that the long hours may also lead to poor quality work and even poorer personal life.

Read more: Bengaluru cardiologist on Narayana Murthy’s 70-hour work week advice: 'Wonder why young people are getting heart attacks'