Amid ongoing debates sparked by business leaders advocating 70- to 90-hour work weeks, RPG Group Chairman Harsh Goenka has come forward in support, emphasizing that the statements made by Infosys founder Narayana Murthy and L&T CEO SN Subrahmanyan were meant to be “directional,” not “literal.”
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Goenka clarified that the idea behind such suggestions is to inspire a shift in national mindset rather than promote overwork. “This isn’t about glorifying burnout,” he wrote. “It’s about shifting the national mindset—from ease to effort, from quick wins to long-term value.”
Backing Piyush Goyal’s Startup Remarks
Goenka also backed Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s recent criticism of the Indian startup ecosystem, particularly the trend of billionaire heirs launching ventures focused on luxury products like ice creams and cookies. Goyal questioned whether such businesses align with India’s larger growth ambitions, saying, “Is the future of India satisfied with that?”
Agreeing with the sentiment, Goenka stated that Goyal, along with Murthy and Subrahmanyan, was speaking in a “directional” manner—encouraging Indian entrepreneurs to think bigger in order to compete with global powers like the US and China.
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The Backlash
Earlier this year, Narayana Murthy triggered a wave of criticism after suggesting young Indians should commit to a 70-hour work week to accelerate the nation’s development. L&T’s SN Subrahmanyan took it further, proposing a 90-hour work week and controversially saying he’d have employees work Sundays if possible. The statements ignited fierce online backlash, with many accusing them of disregarding work-life balance and employee well-being.
By weighing in, Goenka aims to reframe the narrative—not as a call for exhaustion, but a push for ambition and long-term national progress.
“When Murthy and Subrahmanyan spoke of 70-90 hour work weeks and Piyush Goyal questioned startups making vegan ice creams and chasing 10-minute deliveries, they weren’t being literal—they were being directional. They were asking: what are we really building?” Goenka said in his post.
“When Murthy and Subrahmanyan spoke of 70-90 hour work weeks and Piyush Goyal questioned startups making vegan ice creams and chasing 10-minute deliveries, they weren’t being literal—they were being directional. They were asking: what are we really building?” Goenka said in his post.
“90 hours a week? Why not rename Sunday to ‘Sun-duty’ and make ‘day off’ a mythical concept! Working hard and smart is what I believe in, but turning life into a perpetual office shift? That’s a recipe for burnout, not success. Work-life balance isn’t optional, it’s essential. Well, that’s my view!” Goenka had said in his post on X.
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