Namita Thapar, the executive director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals and judge on Shark Tank India, has joined the ongoing debate sparked by Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy’s comments on working 70 hours a week. Thapar rejected Murthy’s advice and questioned the impact of such long working hours on family time and mental health.
Thapar took to social media platform X to express her views, posting a video of Halloween celebrations with her family and asking, “If we listen to you & other experts about working 70 hours/week (plus horrendous commute time), will we ever find time for family, creating precious memories & most importantly for mental health?”
Her comments came after fellow Shark Tank India judge Anupam Mittal shared a photo with the Shark Tank India judges, stating that he still works 70-hour weeks. In response to Thapar’s post, Mittal commented, “Not counting but am pretty sure you are up there in terms of weekly hours. Better to embrace and find work-life harmony than to continue to be torn between work-life balance.”
Thapar’s remarks received support from internet users, with one stating, “Prioritizing mental health and creating precious memories is just as important as any professional success.” Another comment highlighted, “The guys preaching a 70-hour work week probably won’t understand the importance of spending good quality time with family, as they are driven by their insecurities of whether they will be able to make a mark in history or not.”
Former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai defended Murthy’s statement and shared data showing the number of hours urban men work in each state. The Indian average stands at 61.6 hours per week, according to the data. Pai argued that “prosperity needs hard work, data shows.”
However, Dr. Deepak Krishnamurthy, a Bengaluru-based cardiologist, disagreed with Murthy’s take and warned that such inhumane working hours can lead to a generation with a host of heart-related comorbidities.
The debate continues as people weigh in on the work culture in India and the effects of long working hours on individuals and families.
