Infosys co-founder Narayan Murthy made a nationwide debate when he suggested that young Indians should work 70 hours a week to promote the country’s productivity. His comment made during a podcast, quickly went viral, depicted both support and criticism.
The matter of idol? They believe that if India wants to compete with global economies like China and America, young professionals need to be put in additional hours. He argued that hard work and dedication are important for economic development.
But not everyone agreed. Critics slammed the idea, stating that long-working hours of burnout, stress and an unhealthy task-life balance. Many reported that India already has a toxic Udham culture, where employees are overwork but are underpeded. Others argued that productivity is not only about working for a long time – it is about doing smart work. At the same time, some industry leaders supported the statue, saying that their advice was about commitment and ambition, not exploitation. He felt that young professionals should be ready to go to the extra miles if they wanted to succeed.
While the statue’s debate continues around 70 hours/ week comments, a neurosurgeon has come up with a new perspective. Dr. Sid warriorMD, DM Neurologist shared a unique step on the comments of the idol.
Brain does not know what is work and what is comfort
“The brain does not know what is the work and what is rest,” he says on a podcast with actor R Madhavan.
For the comment of Narayan Murari directly on work hours, Dr. Warrier said, “There is a significant difference between them working for several hours and their employees are working for several hours. It is their child for them.”
He said that if someone does something that someone recognizes, the brain does not feel sympathetic, the brain will still calm down. “But if I am doing the same thing for someone else and I think my work is being taken away, it becomes stress,” they say.
Sharing a video clip on his personal Instagram account, Dr. Warrier posted, “In the brain, there is no work and no work. Only optimal stress (aka flow state – where enough inspiration is balanced with enough relaxation) and non -existent stress – where you are bored or overstimulated and worrying.”
Netizens were quick to share their feedback.
A user writes, “At this point as if I do the rest of the work for my company at 18 o’clock and my personal brand.”
“The work does not feel like this when you enjoy what you do either, you are incredibly emotional about what you do or love what you do. Trying and tested,” writes another.
“Still this is not completely true, even if you like to do something, one day will come, where you will feel burnout due to overwork, because due to not having enough time, a life out of work is always necessary to bring new inspiration when there is many times that no one happens,” a third user has told.
