Neurosurgeon explains why Narayana Murthy’s 70-hour work week might not be as stressful as it sounds

Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy recently made headlines with his suggestion that young Indians should work 70 hours a week to boost the country’s productivity. His remark, made during a podcast, quickly went viral and sparked a national debate. While some agreed with his views, others criticised the idea, calling it unrealistic and harmful.

Murthy believes that if India wants to compete with global economies like China and the U.S., young professionals need to put in extra hours. He argued that hard work and dedication are essential for the country’s economic growth.

Some industry leaders supported his statement, saying his advice was about commitment and ambition, not exploitation. They felt that young professionals should be willing to go the extra mile to achieve success.


However, many people strongly disagreed with Murthy’s view. Critics pointed out that long working hours can lead to burnout, stress, and an unhealthy work-life balance. They also argued that India already has a toxic hustle culture, where employees are often overworked but underpaid.

Others said that productivity isn’t just about working longer, it’s about working smarter. Instead of increasing work hours, they suggested better efficiency, proper work-life balance, and fair pay as ways to improve productivity.

Neurosurgeon Offers a Fresh Perspective

While the debate continues, a neurosurgeon, Dr. Sid Warrier (MD, DM Neurologist), has shared a unique take on Murthy’s comments, as reported by The Times of India (TOI).

Speaking on a podcast with actor R Madhavan, Dr. Warrier explained how the brain perceives work and stress.

"The Brain Doesn’t Know What is Work and What is Rest"

Dr. Warrier stated, “The brain doesn’t know what is work and what is rest.” He explained that there is a key difference between Murthy working 70 hours a week and his employees doing the same.

"For him, it is his baby," he said, referring to the fact that Murthy built Infosys from the ground up. He explained that if a person truly identifies with their work, their brain does not register it as stress. It stays calm and engaged.

However, if someone is working for someone else and feels that their efforts are not valued, it turns into stress. This is why long working hours may not be sustainable for everyone.

Flow State vs. Stressful Work

Dr. Warrier further elaborated on his views through an Instagram post, where he wrote: "To the brain, there is no work and not work. There is only optimal stress (also called the flow state), where motivation is balanced with adequate rest. And then there is non-optimal stress, where you are either bored or overstimulated and anxious."

Netizens React

His perspective resonated with many, and people quickly shared their opinions online.

• “Absolutely on point! I work 18 hours a day, 9 hours for my company and the rest for my personal brand.”
• “Work doesn’t feel like work when you enjoy what you do or are truly passionate about it.”
• “Even if you love your work, overwork can still lead to burnout. A life outside of work is always needed to stay motivated.”

Inputs from TOI