‘There was no point cribbing that ‘Oh, you are not there”: Sudha Murty on her husband Narayana Murthy’s 70-hour work week comment

“Infosys was built with no money, but with dedicated colleagues who worked 70 hours or even more. It couldn’t have been possible otherwise. There was no magic wand that made Infosys so large—it was sheer hard work, part luck, and being in the right place at the right time,” she said.

This statement aligns with Narayana Murthy’s comments in 2023, where he highlighted India’s low work productivity and urged young professionals to put in 70-hour work weeks, citing the Germans and Japanese post-World War II as examples of economic rebuilding through rigorous labour.

 

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Balancing personal and professional life

While Infosys demanded intense commitment, Sudha ensured their family life remained stable.

“When Murthy spoke to me about our personal life, I told him, ‘Take care of Infosys, I’ll take care of the family.’ I made that decision. There was no point cribbing that ‘Oh, you are not there’ because he was doing bigger work,” she shared.

She acknowledged that it wasn’t just her husband—journalists, doctors, and professionals across industries often work long hours, some even up to 90 hours a week.

While Narayana Murthy was building Infosys, Sudha juggled multiple roles—managing the household, raising their children, teaching computer science, and eventually dedicating herself to philanthropy through the Infosys Foundation.

‘Now, I work more than my husband’

As her children moved abroad, Sudha Murty found herself immersed in social work, working overtime.

“Today, I work more than my husband. And he is my supporting force. Behind every successful woman, there’s an understanding man. When Murthy was working, I supported him. Now that I am working, he supports me. That’s life,” she added.

She firmly believes that time is a universal resource, given equally to everyone.

“God has given everyone 24 hours—whether you are rich or poor, beautiful or ugly. How you choose to spend it is up to you. Passion requires time, and if you are passionate about your work, your partner should support it,” she concluded.