For the first time ever, Sudha Murthy opens up on husband Narayana Murthy's 70 hour work week comment; says, 'There was no "magic wand..." '

For months now, billionaire businessman Narayana Murthy has been in the line of fire for saying that the youth of today should work around 70 hours per week (translating to 14 hours 5 days a week, or around 11 hours, 6 days a week) in order to be successful. Post his comment, the 78-year-old has drawn sharp criticism by young professionals, who say that not only is this barbaric, but also one of the fastest ways to burn out, and have no personal life of your own.

In the midst of all this, his wife, Indian educator, author, and philanthropist, Sudha Murthy has maintained her silence on her husband's explosive claims. Sudha, who is the Founder-Chairperson of the non-profit charitable organization Infosys Foundation, is known for her down-to-earth persona, simple living and humility.

Recently, while talking to NDTV's "India Through the Eyes of Its Icons", Sudha opened up on her husband's point of view, and revealed that it took a lot of hard work to create Infosys. She said, “There was no "magic wand" that could make Infosys so large... It was sheer hard work, part of luck, part of the correct timing or in the correct place, everything is there."
She also said that she decided to take a step back from the corporate world to focus on family life, as her husband got busy with starting Infosys. She further added that she never complained, as he was working on something 'larger'. She also revealed that her husband is not an anomaly, as others in fields like journalism and medicine often work long hours. She also said that spouses should be supportive of each other, regardless of the stage of life they are in.
Struggling to balance your personal and professional life? Here are some tips
While the 70-hour work week is open for debate, here are some tips on how to manage your personal and professional life
Take adequate breaks: If leaves are a problem, then use your weekends for short breaks with your family. Stay away from work related calls during those hours and spend some quality time.

Take an interest in your family affairs: Even if you don't have the time, take a keen interest in your kids' studies, spouse's work/personal issues, and the like. This will make them feel more connected with you.
Avoid work calls post hours: While this might not be practical all the time, what you can do is to keep them short and crisp. If an impending work has come up, try and start your day early the next day to make up for it.

Have at least one meal with the family: Usually it is breakfast or dinner, but unless in case of emergencies, do not skip on this. Will also give you the chance to catch up on each other's day/impending chores.