‘We were all sold on Nehru…’ Narayana Murthy recalled his past says, ‘West was talking about corrupt India and…’
Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys and one of India’s most prominent business leaders, has once again defended his advocacy for a 70-hour workweek, emphasizing the importance of a strong work ethic among young Indians. Murthy stressed that India needs to set higher aspirations and work towards becoming the leading global economy.
Narayana Murthy On Nehru’s Era
“My father used to talk about the extraordinary progress that was happening in the country at the time and we were all sold on Nehru and socialism. I had the opportunity to work in Paris in the early 70s and I was confused. The West was talking about how filthy and corrupt India was. In my country there was poverty and the roads had potholes,” Narayana Murthy said, as quoted by NDTV report.
“There (West), everyone was reasonably prosperous and trains ran on time and I thought this can’t be wrong. I met the leader of the French Communist Party and he answered all my questions, but not to my satisfaction,” he added.
Narayana Murthy On Role of Capitalism
Murthy strongly advocated for embracing capitalism as a pathway to national development. “I realized that governments play no role in entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs are the ones who build a nation by creating jobs, generating wealth for investors, and contributing taxes,” he remarked.
He also emphasized the need for “compassionate capitalism” in a country like India, where poverty is widespread. According to Murthy, adopting this approach would not only spur economic growth but also ensure that the benefits of prosperity are distributed more equitably. “Capitalism can create good roads, trains, and infrastructure. If India is to prosper, it must embrace this model,” he stated.
Narayana Murthy Defends 70-hour Workweek Idea
“We have to work hard to make India number one,” he stated. Highlighting the scale of the challenge, Murthy pointed out that “800 million Indians receive free rations, meaning a significant portion of the population lives in poverty. If we are not ready to work hard, then who will?”
“At Infosys, I said we will go to the best and compare ourselves with the best global companies. Once we compare ourselves with the best global companies, I can tell you we Indians have a lot to do. We have to set our aspirations high because 800 million Indians get free ration. That means 800 million Indians are in poverty. If we are not in a position to work hard, then who will work hard?” reported NDTV report as saying at the event.