Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy is once again at the center of a heated national discussion. After earlier advising India’s youth to work 70 hours a week, he has now raised the bar to 72 hours, citing China’s controversial 9-9-6 work culture as an example. His new comments have triggered a fresh storm on social media.

‘No success without hard work’
At 79, Narayana Murthy firmly believes that long, consistent effort is the foundation of progress. He says individuals must first build personal and family stability before worrying about work-life balance. According to him, no country has ever advanced without putting in sustained hard work. His statement has gone viral, drawing both support and criticism.

Citing China’s example
In a TV interview, Murthy pointed to China’s once-famous 9-9-6 system—working 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week—which totals 72 hours. He said senior and mid-level employees from his investment firm, Catamaran, recently visited China and observed that citizens in both Tier 1 and Tier 3 cities worked extremely hard.

Murthy argued that India must adopt a similar mindset. He also mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming he works nearly 100 hours a week, calling it an inspiration for the country’s youth.

What exactly is China’s 9-9-6 model?
The 9-9-6 work culture was widely adopted by several leading Chinese tech companies. It demanded employees work 12 hours a day for six days a week—a total of 72 hours. However, the Chinese government eventually banned the practice, stating it violated labor laws and seriously harmed employees’ health, well-being, and work-life balance.

Social media divided
As expected, Murthy’s comments set off a fiery debate online. Some people agree that India needs to work harder to grow faster. Others argue that long working hours are impossible without better salaries, improved infrastructure, and higher quality of life. Critics say overwork cannot be the solution in a country already struggling with stressful work environments.