Tejasvi Surya Tells Narayana Murthy He’ll Strive For 70-Hour Week, Gets A Reply That’s Pure Gold

Last Updated:July 16, 2025, 12:33 IST

After Tejasvi Surya said he would strive to meet Narayana Murthy’s 70-hour workweek ideal, the Infosys co-founder replied with a remark about Prime Minister Modi’s work ethic

Tejasvi Surya with Narayana Murthy. (Image:X/@Tejasvi_Surya)

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya on Tuesday shared a striking insight from an in-flight conversation with Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, revealing the legendary entrepreneur’s take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s work ethic.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Surya described the interaction as an “inspiring conversation" and a “two-hour masterclass" that spanned a variety of pressing national concerns—from artificial intelligence and manufacturing to the state of India’s cities, youth upskilling, ethics, and leadership.

“Had an inspiring conversation with the legendary NRN today on the way back to Bengaluru from Mumbai," the BJP Yuva Morcha chief wrote, sharing a photo of the two in conversation mid-flight. “NRN pioneered the Indian IT services sector, turning it into a global powerhouse. He created wealth for literally lakhs of middle class families through Infosys."

Murthy’s contributions to India’s technology sector and economy are widely acknowledged, particularly in how Infosys helped shape the country’s identity as a global software hub. But it was a humorous remark at the end of their interaction that caught public attention.

Referring to Murthy’s much-discussed call for young Indians to commit to a 70-hour workweek, Surya said he joked about trying to meet that benchmark himself.

“I humorously quipped at the end of our conversation that I’ll strive to meet his 70-hour-a-week target," Surya wrote. “To which he laughed and said, ‘The only person I know who probably works 100 hours a week is Prime Minister Modi!’"

The reference to PM Modi’s intense work ethic is not new. Over the years, several top leaders and bureaucrats have spoken of his punishing schedule and relentless pace. Former President Pranab Mukherjee once recalled that PM Modi worked “like a man possessed," and Union ministers like Piyush Goyal and S Jaishankar have publicly acknowledged his round-the-clock involvement in governance. In a 2019 interview, Modi himself said he had not taken a single holiday in over 20 years.

Murthy’s remark now adds yet another nod to this image—of a leader who, even at 74, is often seen holding back-to-back meetings late into the night, addressing rallies across multiple states in a day, and beginning his mornings before sunrise.

Murthy’s original comment, made last year, had stirred considerable debate after he urged India’s youth to voluntarily work 70 hours a week to help lift the country’s productivity and economic standing. He argued that a stronger work ethic was necessary if India wanted to compete globally and overcome poverty. “India’s work productivity is one of the lowest in the world," he had said. “Unless we improve our work productivity, we will not be able to compete with those countries that have made tremendous progress."

He added: “My request is that our youngsters must say, ‘This is my country. I want to work 70 hours a week’."

The suggestion, however, drew mixed reactions. Critics accused Murthy of being out of touch with today’s workforce and ignoring the physical and mental health toll such hours can take, especially for employees without the wealth or autonomy that founders enjoy.

In January 2025, Murthy issued a clarification, saying that his remark was never intended as a mandate and that working 70 hours a week should be a personal choice driven by individual ambition, not external pressure. “It’s about internal motivation, not coercion," he said during the Kilachand Memorial Lecture.

Surya summed up his mid-air exchange by calling it deeply educational and energising. “From ethics to leadership, every minute with NRN was a learning moment," he wrote. His post has since been widely shared, drawing renewed attention to Murthy’s views.

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