Infosys Co-Founder NR Narayana Murthy, whose recent remark advising youngsters to work 70 hours a week sparked debate, clarified on Monday that no one can impose such demands, but individuals must "introspect" and understand the necessity of hard work

Murthy shared that he himself worked over 70 hours a week for more than 40 years during his tenure at Infosys

“I can say that I used to get to the office at 6.30 am and leave at 8.30 pm, that's a fact. I have done it. So, nobody can say that no, that's wrong. And I have done it for 40-odd years,” he said while addressing questions on work-life balance

He added that such matters should be personal reflections rather than topics for public debate

“These are not issues that should be discussed and debated. These are issues that one can introspect on, one can ingest and one can come to some conclusion and do whatever they want,” Murthy stated

Amid ongoing discussions, fuelled further by recent remarks from Larsen and Toubro Chairman SN Subrahmanyan encouraging employees to work 90 hours a week, Murthy emphasised that choices about work ethic should stem from understanding their broader impact

He argued that efforts should be guided by the reality of poverty and how individual contributions can improve the lives of others

During his lecture, Murthy cited German sociologist Max Weber’s views, suggesting that nations thrive when decent, hardworking people with high aspirations, discipline, and good values persevere against all odds. He pointed out that 60 per cent of Indians still rely on free food grains monthly, highlighting the pressing need for economic growth and poverty alleviation

Murthy also criticised corporate greed for eroding public faith in capitalism, portraying it as a tool for the rich to exploit others. He urged business leaders to adopt "compassionate capitalism" to rebuild trust and foster sustainable progress