Infosys founder Narayana Murthy has reignited a heated national conversation by advocating for an Indian work culture modeled on China’s infamous “996 rule” — 9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week — totaling 72 hours on the job. In a new interview with Republic TV, Murthy cited his own team’s experiences in China, suggesting such arduous routines underpin China’s dramatic economic progress and could be the key for India’s youth to drive faster national growth.
“No country has ever come up without hard work,” Murthy declared, while holding up Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reputed 100-hour work week as an example of individual commitment to nation-building.
He contended that nations and communities can only “get a life” after achieving economic upliftment through hard, sustained effort—a perspective that quickly drew praise from some industrialists but also provoked passionate public resistance.
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Murthy’s latest remarks have unleashed a wave of social media pushback across platforms, with employees, professionals, and even startup founders making their voices heard.
Author’s summary: Narayana Murthy’s stance on adopting extreme work norms sparked broad backlash and a renewed debate on productivity, work-life balance, and national growth strategies in India.