New Delhi: Amid the ongoing debate in the country over work-life balance, Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani has offered his perspective. Speaking to news agency IANS, Adani emphasised on underscoring the importance of personal happiness. The debate has been sparked by Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy’s 70-hour workweek suggestion.
Adani said that work-life balance is subjective and should not be universally imposed. “Your work-life balance should not be imposed on me, and my work-life balance shouldn’t be imposed on you. If someone spends four hours with family and finds joy, or another spends eight hours, that’s their balance,” he said. Adding a humorous note, Adani added, “Notwithstanding that if you spend eight hours, biwi bhaag jaegi (the wife will run away).”
Murthy’s 70-hour workweek suggestion
He further explained that life becomes simpler when individuals focus on what they enjoy and accept their mortality. “No one is here permanently. Once we understand this, life becomes straightforward,” he added.
Adani’s comments come in the wake of Narayana Murthy’s suggestion that young professionals should work 70 hours per week to boost the country’s competitiveness globally. Murthy argued that hard work is essential, particularly for a nation where major portion of the population relies on government-subsidy. While on one hand Murthy’s remarks drew criticism, on the other, they also found support from people like Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal.
Adani’s remarks offer a balanced perspective, encouraging individuals to define their own work-life balance. “If it brings you happiness and the other person is also happy, then that’s the true definition of work-life balance,” he explained.
