‘No magic wand made Infosys so large’: Sudha Murty on Narayana Murthy’s 70-hour work ethic, sacrifice and the cost of building a legacy

Author and philanthropist Sudha Murty has offered her perspective on the ongoing debate over long work hours, sparked by her husband and Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy’s remarks advocating a 70-hour workweek for young professionals.

In a conversation with NDTV, Sudha Murty reflected on the role of passion in one’s career, emphasising that when someone is deeply invested in their work, time ceases to be a constraint.

“There’s no magic wand that could make Infosys so large. It was sheer hard work, part of luck, part of the correct timing or in the correct place, everything is there,” she said, recalling how Narayana Murthy routinely clocked more than 70 hours a week in the early days of Infosys.

Her comments come in the wake of a broader discussion on work-life balance and productivity in India. Narayana Murthy’s views, expressed in 2023, had ignited widespread debate after he cited historical examples of German and Japanese work ethics and urged Indian youth to embrace longer hours to enhance national productivity. Critics, however, argued that such an approach undermines personal well-being and work-life balance.

Sudha Murty, while acknowledging the immense effort required to build a company from scratch, also spoke about the personal trade-offs that came with her husband’s demanding career.

“I made that decision, and I also decided there was no point cribbing and telling your husband, ‘Oh, you are not there,’ because he is doing bigger work,” she noted, underlining the importance of understanding and supporting a partner’s professional commitments.

She extended this perspective beyond the corporate world, pointing out that intense dedication to work is not unique to entrepreneurs. “Professionals in other fields, such as doctors and journalists, often work similarly long hours to achieve their goals,” she said, highlighting the universality of the experience.

Murty also reflected on the way she navigated her own time and interests, particularly her writing career. “I learnt that I have to make my own path to being occupied and not think that, ‘I don’t have time or you don’t have time,’ and enjoy that. I used to write, but I started writing a little more,” she shared.

Philosophising about time management, she added, “God has given 24 hours to all, whether you are rich or poor, beautiful or ugly. How you want to spend it is left to you. And if you want to do anything passionately, it requires time. And if you are passionate about your work, then your partner should support it.”