A few days back, Infosys founder Narayana Murthy grabbed headlines after he urged youngsters to work 70 hours a week for the advancement of the country. He faced immense flak from people on social media who alleged that he was promoting a toxic work culture and that employees would be devoid of a healthy personal and social life if they were to follow his advice.
His wife, Sudha Murthy, who is the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation, sided with his advice in an interview with News18. When asked what she thinks about her husband’s statements, she said that he used to work 80-90 hours a week and he doesn’t know any better.
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“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,” she said.
She went on to add, “People have different ways of expression. But he lived like that, he had walked the talk. So, he has shared his experience.”
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When the interviewer further asked her what she has learnt from Narayana Murthy from all these years, Sudha Murthy listed three very interesting things.
She said, “I have learnt a lot of things (from him). Number one is that keep an aim and work for that. Don’t be distracted neither to the left nor to the right. He keeps an aim and he works on that. [Second] When you are working, don’t leave any stone unturned. Third thing – if you have passion, only then you will excel. It is not your intelligence or dumb hard work, but smart hard work that will take you ahead.”
Do you think the youth of today should put in such extensive hours at work? Tell us!