Narayana Murthy, the co-founder of Infosys, sparked a debate with his advice for young people to work 70 hours a week. On Monday, he reportedly clarified that no one can dictate that commitment: it is a personal choice that calls for introspection, not public discourse.

Reflecting on his own career, Murthy shared, “I used to reach the office at 6:30 in the morning and leave at 8:30 pm. I’ve done it for 40 years. That’s a fact.” Speaking after of delivering the Kilachand Memorial Lecture at IMC, added, “These are not matters for debate. These are deeply personal decisions. No one can say, ‘You should do it or you shouldn’t do it'”.

Murthy’s remarks come amid growing discussion about work-life balance, heightened by L&T chairman SN Subrahmanyan’s recent call for 90-hour work weeks. Murthy framed the conversation in stark terms: the moral responsibility to uplift the nation’s poor.

“A child in poverty can only have a better future if I work hard, work smart, generate income and pay taxes,” he said.

He drew on the sociological work of Max Weber to emphasize that hard work, discipline and ethical values ​​drive national success.

For India, where 60 percent of the population depends on free food grain programs, he argued, such efforts are not just personal, but essential to economic strength.

Murthy also addressed concerns about the credibility of capitalism, citing corporate greed as a major cause of public distrust. “We need compassionate capitalism: justice, transparency, integrity and putting the interests of society ahead of personal gain,” he said.

He urged business leaders to adopt this ethos for their own survival, warning that corporations cannot thrive in failing societies.

On questions about the lavish lifestyles of business leaders, Murthy declined judgement, saying, “If no law is broken, it is their right to spend their money as they see fit.” However, he reiterated that civil societies prioritize improving the lives of future generations, and called on corporate India to adopt a socially responsible long-term approach.