Narayana Murthy’s 72-Hour Workweek: A Call for a New Indian Work Ethic vs. the Gen Z Perspective

 

Narayana Murthy’s 70 - 72-Hours Workweek: A Call for a New Indian Work Ethic vs. the Gen Z Perspective

 India is at a decisive moment in its economic evolution. As one of the world’s youngest nations with unprecedented digital potential, India faces a crucial question: What kind of work ethic will define its future?

 This debate re-emerged forcefully when Infosys founder Narayana Murthy suggested that India’s youth should work 70–72 hours a week to accelerate national growth. While many respected his intent, others — particularly India’s Gen Z — challenged the relevance of such a model in the modern economy.

 To understand this debate, it is essential to examine Asia’s historic work cultures, India’s aspirations, and the evolving expectations of its young workforce.

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Murthy’s Vision: Hard Work as a National Imperative

 Narayana Murthy’s appeal is rooted in the belief that nations rise through extraordinary effort, not ordinary hours.

His own journey with Infosys mirrors this truth. In 1981, with scarce capital, zero startup ecosystem, and limited government support, Murthy and his co-founders built a global IT powerhouse through relentless commitment and long work hours.

For Murthy, the formula is simple:

1. Discipline fuels development
2. Productivity drives prosperity
3. A strong work ethic is essential for global competitiveness

He argues that India’s demographic dividend will matter only if its youth embrace high effort, continuous learning, and global standards of excellence.

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The Asian Context: China and Japan’s Extreme Work Cultures

Murthy’s viewpoint echoes the philosophies that enabled China and Japan to achieve dramatic economic transformations.

 China’s 996 Model: Productivity Above All

China’s rise is inseparable from its “996” work culture —
9 a.m. to 9 p.m., 6 days a week.

 This model powered:

1. A global tech revolution
2. Manufacturing dominance
3. Rapid infrastructure expansion

Ironically, this capitalist work ethic exists inside a communist political framework, contradicting Karl Marx’s demand for the 8-hour workday.

 Japan’s Karōshi Culture: When Work Becomes Identity

 Japan’s post-war miracle was powered by loyalty, discipline, and occupational devotion.

Yet it also produced karōshi — death by overwork.

Workers routinely logged 12–16 hour days, sacrificing health and family life.

Both China and Japan demonstrate that extraordinary economic growth often comes with human, social, and ideological costs.

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 The Gen Z Perspective: A New Definition of Hard Work

 India’s Gen Z — born between the late 1990s and early 2010s — enters this debate with a radically different worldview. They do not oppose hard work; they oppose obsolete, unsustainable, and inefficient work models.

 Their perspective reflects global exposure, digital fluency, and a changing understanding of productivity.

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1. Productivity Over Presenteeism

Gen Z values outcomes, not hours.
For them:

1. Performance > physical presence
2. Efficiency > extension of work hours
3. Smart work > brute effort

They believe technology can achieve in hours what older generations accomplished in days — making 72-hour workweeks unnecessary.

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2. Mental Health Is Non-Negotiable

Unlike previous generations, Gen Z openly prioritizes:

1. Mental wellness
2. Psychological safety
3. Work boundaries

For them, national progress must not come at the cost of burnout or emotional collapse. They view China’s 996 and Japan’s karōshi as cautionary tales, not models to imitate.

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3. Digital Natives With High Automation Skills

Gen Z has a natural advantage: being born into a digital world. They excel at:

1. Automation
2. AI-assisted workflows
3. Multi-tasking across platforms
4. Rapid learning

Their approach:
Leverage technology, not extend hours.

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4. Purpose-Driven Work Over Mechanical Labour

Gen Z will work extremely hard — but only when work aligns with their values:

1. Innovation
2. Creativity
3. Social impact
4. Meaningful contribution

Loyalty for them is not blind — it is earned.

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5. High Performance Without Self-Destruction

Gen Z is not anti-work. They believe in a new high-effort model:

1. High productivity
2. High creativity
3. High learning
4. High impact
5. Low burnout
6. Flexible schedules
7. Tech-enabled output

They envision a future where India grows by unleashing human potential, not exhausting it.

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India at the Crossroads: Two Visions, One Goal

 Narayana Murthy’s call for a 72-hour workweek reflects a legacy of sacrifice-driven growth.

Gen Z’s response represents a future of innovation-driven growth.

Both perspectives share a common aspiration:

A prosperous, competitive, and globally respected India.

The question is not whether India should work hard — it is how India should work hard.

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Conclusion: Finding India’s Balanced Work Ethic

 India’s path forward lies in synthesizing the best of both worlds:

1. Murthy’s belief in discipline, commitment, and national effort
2. Gen Z’s emphasis on efficiency, mental wellbeing, and purposeful work

The future of India will not be built by choosing one model over the other, but by creating a hybrid work ethic that is:

1. Ambitious
2. Sustainable
3. Humane
4. Innovative

India stands at a historic crossroads. The work ethic it adopts today will shape its economic destiny tomorrow.

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