Narayana Murthy Faces Backlash for Parenting Remark: ‘Parents Working 70 Hours a Week’

Infosys founder Narayana Murthy has faced criticism on social media for his recent comments on parenting. Speaking at an event in Bengaluru on September 9, Murthy emphasized that parents should create a disciplined environment at home to help their children focus on their studies. He recalled how he and his wife, Sudha Murty, dedicated over 3.5 hours each day to reading with their children, Akshata and Rohan, during their schooling years. Murthy stated, “My wife’s logic was, if I am watching TV, I cannot tell my children to study. So she said, I will sacrifice my TV time, and I will also study.”

However, his remarks have sparked a backlash, particularly on social media platforms like X. Critics have pointed out the contradiction between his comments on parenting and his earlier stance that employees should work 70 hours a week for national development.

One user, Renuka Jain, questioned, “But if parents work for 72 hours as you recommend then when will they devote time to kids?”

Another commenter highlighted the impracticality of balancing Murthy’s expectations with a demanding work schedule, stating, “Sir, with due respect, you were working 14 hours a day for the office, 3.5 hours for your children, leaving 6.5 hours for sleeping and other routines. Hats off to you.”

Jokes also emerged about the feasibility of balancing work and family life. X user Aman quipped, “Sir, after working 72 hours a week, there is no time left to have babies. Maternity and paternity leave will reduce productivity.”

Some users called for a more balanced approach, arguing that expecting all parents to dedicate several hours daily to their children is unrealistic. One user noted, “It’s unrealistic to expect every parent to dedicate hours to reading or studying with their kids, especially in today’s world where many parents are juggling jobs, household responsibilities, and more. Not all families have the same resources or time.”