Tejasvi Surya’s Narayana Murthy’s Flight Exchange’s sparked debate. Netizens’ reaction to PM Modi, 100 hours a week

An in-flight conversation between Infosys co-founders NR NARAYANA MURTHY and BJP MP TEJASVI SURYA has sparked a new debate in online debate, especially in India’s work culture and Murthy’s highly-watched “70 Hours Work Week”.

Murthy and Surya recently flew from Mumbai to Bengaluru. The now famous “70 Hours Work Week” review by Infosys co-founder is Surya’s first thing. So when the BJP MP from southern Bengaluru sat on a two-hour journey next to Musi, he quipped that he was struggling to meet a “70-hour goal per week” and Morsi replied that he named someone he thought he had worked more.

“The only person I know who works 100 hours a week is Prime Minister Modi!,” Morsi said.

Please read also:From Narayana Murthy’s 70-hour Work Weork advice to warning email: Infosys recommends employees avoid overtime work for work-life balance

Surya shared this communication on the formal handle on the X. He wrote: “On the way back to Bangalore from Mumbai, an exciting conversation with the legendary NRN. NRN pioneered the Indian IT services sector, turning it into a global power. He created wealth for middle-class families through Infosys,” he wrote.

Surya describes their two-hour conversation as covering topics such as artificial intelligence, manufacturing, urban development in India, high skills, ethics and leadership for young people, which is “deeply inspiring”.

In response to X’s comment, Surya also revealed that during their trip to a low-cost domestic airline, Morsi not only took an economy class trip, but also carried his own luggage and used a regular toilet at the airport – avoiding the VIP lounge altogether.

But what really caused a series of reactions was Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which implies the response of those who work over 70 hours a week.

Please read also:Narayana Murthy’s formula to eliminate poverty in India does not include freebies; here’s his advice

Netizens have different feelings

The internet can quickly lock in exchanges and respond as separate as ever: “How many hours does he suggest you work every day?” asked a user. One user joked that Tejasvi Surya’s flight became a crash course at Hustle Culture, even the plane needed a break between Murthy’s 70-hour grinding and PM Modi’s 100-hour benchmark.

“Does he recommend working 90 hours, or is he still stuck in 70 hours?” He couldn’t breathe. “Working 70 hours a week is not sustainable. I do it occasionally during very important times. It is foolish to expect employees to do it all the time. The work done will also be mediocre. If your employees need to work 70 hours a week, then your project planning is terrible,” one said.

A 70-hour week won’t disappear

Since Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy suggested that young Indians should work 70 hours to increase the country’s productivity, debates around work-life balance, burnout and a toxic work culture will only intensify. But is this argument more than the eyes?

Murthy’s comments now date back to a podcast two years ago, saying: “Young people need to work at least 70 hours a week,” adding: “India’s productivity is very low. ”

He believes that Indians need to spend longer competing with countries such as Japan and China. About a year later, in 2024, Musi said firmly: “I don’t believe in work-life balance.”

Comments were unsurprisingly causing a rebound. Critics lashed out the idea to be unrealistic and unhealthy, especially in a country that has struggled to deal with long working days, underprotected labor and mental health issues. Morsi is also disappointed with the six-day transition in 1986 to a five-day job, which is clearly still regretting.

But what about Infosys?

Interestingly, while Murthy continues to publicly embrace the 70-hour work week, the company he co-founded now seems to be contrary to his position.

In a new internal plan, Infosys in Bangalore is actively urging its employees to avoid overwork and maintain a healthy work-life balance. IT majors raise concerns about the health risks associated with excessive working hours, especially in remote and mixed environments. The company has reportedly started sending personalized emails to employees, and their login hours have always exceeded acceptable limits. These messages contain a detailed summary of their remote working mode, including the number of days working from home, the total number of hours recorded, and the daily average.