Renowned Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy recently delivered a compelling message, emphasizing the need for a cultural shift towards discipline and heightened work productivity in India. In a candid conversation with former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai on 3one4 Capital’s podcast ‘The Record,’ Narayana Murthy shared his insights on a range of topics, including nation-building, technology, Infosys, and the work ethic of the younger generation.
Murthy’s central message revolved around the imperative for India to undergo a transformation in its work culture. He urged the nation to adopt a more determined, disciplined, and industrious approach. He argued that such a shift is necessary if India wishes to compete with economies that have achieved remarkable progress in the past few decades.
The Infosys founder did not mince words when he suggested that the younger generation in India should be prepared to commit as many as 70 hours a week to their work. Drawing a parallel with post-World War II Japan and Germany, which rebounded by encouraging extended work hours, he stressed that India’s work productivity lags behind many other nations.
In his discussion, Narayana Murthy did not merely focus on the work culture but also touched upon the issues hindering India’s progress. He pointed to problems such as corruption in the government and bureaucratic delays, identifying them as major hurdles to increased productivity. He expressed concern over India’s poor work productivity and the urgent need to address these challenges.
Murthy stated, “India’s work productivity is one of the lowest in the world. Unless we improve our work productivity, unless we reduce corruption in the government at some level, because we have been reading I don’t know the truth of it, unless we reduce the delays in our bureaucracy in taking this decision, we will not be able to compete with those countries that have made tremendous progress.”
In conclusion, Narayana Murthy passionately appealed to the youth of India to embrace a transformation in their work ethic. He encouraged them to take ownership of their country’s progress by dedicating themselves to working 70 hours a week. Drawing parallels with the post-war recoveries of Germany and Japan, he underlined the importance of such dedicated efforts in propelling India to new heights of success. As the conversation highlighted, it’s not just about working longer hours, but also about adopting a more disciplined and determined approach to work – a mindset shift that Narayana Murthy believes can be pivotal in shaping the nation’s future.
