What does Narayana Murthy think of PM Modi's weekly work hours? BJP MP Tejasvi Surya shares

What started as a routine flight from Mumbai to Bengaluru turned into a whirlwind of ideas, philosophies, and a dash of humour for BJP MP Tejasvi Surya. Seated next to Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy, the young parliamentarian found himself in an impromptu “two-hour masterclass” with one of India’s most respected minds. From artificial intelligence and urban planning to leadership ethics and the controversial 70-hour workweek—nothing was off the table. And just when things couldn’t get more intense, Murthy revealed the weekly working hours of the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.

Surya shared the moment on X (formerly Twitter), posting a photo with the tech titan and recounting the rich conversation. “Had an inspiring conversation with the legendary NRN today,” he wrote, calling it a two-hour lesson on India’s future. Murthy, often credited with turning India’s IT sector into a global behemoth, spoke candidly about the country’s potential across AI, manufacturing, education, and urban governance.

Tejasvi Surya also addressed the elephant in the room—Murthy’s now-infamous suggestion that young Indians should work 70 hours a week to help build the nation. “I humorously quipped that I’ll strive to meet his 70-hour-a-week target,” he wrote, to which Murthy replied with a laugh, “The only person I know who probably works 100 hours a week is Prime Minister Modi!”

Narayana Murthy’s 70-hour work

Sometime back, Narayana Murthy’s call for Indian youth to work 70 hours a week had sparked intense debate across industries, dividing public opinion. While some hailed it as a patriotic push to boost productivity, others slammed it as impractical in a country battling poor work-life balance. Murthy, who claimed to have once clocked 85–90 hours a week until 1994, argued that those who benefit from subsidised education owe it to the nation’s underprivileged. His wife Sudha Murty also backed him, citing her father and sister’s similar work ethics.