“There is a saying in China, 9, 9, 6. You know what it means? 9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week. That is 72 hours a week,” says Narayana Murthy

Infosys co-founder  NR Narayana Murthy has shared a strong message about the kind of work ethic he believes India needs to grow faster. 

In a recent interview with Republic World, he said India must look closely at how other nations push themselves, and learn from examples that show what steady and focused effort can achieve.

China’s “9-9-6” Workweek and Why Narayan Murthy Mentioned It

During the interview, Mr. Murthy spoke about what he and his team noticed during a visit to China. 

He said, “You know there is a saying there, 9, 9, 6. You know what it means? 9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week. And that is 72 hours a week.”

He said this routine was common across many cities and was one of the key reasons China moved ahead so quickly. According to him, such long hours were not just about staying at work but also about discipline and a clear goal shared by many people across the country.

Mr. Murthy stressed that this kind of steady effort has played a major role in China’s economic rise over the years.

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Why Murthy Thinks India Must Raise Its Work Standards

Mr. Murthy said India has smart people and strong ideas but must support those ideas with serious action. He said, “If we have great ideas, if we back it up with extraordinary action in every aspect, I do think we can do that.”

He also spoke about the need for steady effort from every part of society. He said, “The job is not easy. It requires each one of us to set high benchmarks for our own actions.”

mr. Murthy has often spoken about the need for longer working hours and repeated that steady and focused work is important for a country that wants to grow at a much faster pace. 

He believes India can close the gap with China, but only if workers, leaders and institutions are willing to put in consistent effort over time.

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