NR Narayana Murthy, the co-founder of Infosys, recently emphasized the need for India’s youth to put in long hours of work in order to propel the country into a more competitive position on the global stage. In a candid discussion on 3one4 Capital’s podcast ‘The Record’, Murthy underscored the importance of hard work, productivity, and the role of the younger generation in shaping India’s future.
Murthy’s Vision for India: A Call for Increased Productivity and Cultural Transformation
Murthy began by acknowledging that India’s work productivity lags behind many other nations, posing a challenge for the country’s global competitiveness. He drew parallels with the post-World War II strategies of Japan and Germany, where they encouraged their citizens to work longer hours to rebuild their economies. In the same vein, Murthy urged Indian youth to embrace the idea of working 70 hours a week to help India catch up with economies that have made significant progress over the past few decades.
Furthermore, Murthy didn’t place the entire burden on the younger generation. He also highlighted the issues of corruption in government and bureaucratic inefficiencies, recognizing these as obstacles that hinder productivity and progress. He stressed that, in addition to the youth’s commitment to hard work, the government and the overall culture in India need to undergo transformation. Murthy asserted that discipline, determination, and hard work should be embedded in the nation’s cultural ethos to support and complement the efforts of the youth.
Murthy’s Vision: Transforming India’s Youth for Economic Progress
Murthy’s call to action was grounded in the belief that India’s youth, who constitute a substantial portion of the population, bear a significant responsibility for the nation’s advancement. He emphasized that without a change in the work culture, governmental efforts alone would fall short. He called for the transformation of the younger generation into a disciplined, highly determined, and extremely hardworking workforce, recognizing their pivotal role in building the country’s future.
It’s worth mentioning that Murthy had previously made a similar appeal. In 2020, in the midst of the difficulties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, he called on professionals to dedicate themselves to a 60-hour workweek for a limited period to contribute to the recovery of the Indian economy.
