Indian actor-turned-MP Kangana Ranaut intensifies ‘obsessive work culture’ debate

Kangana Ranaut, actor turned Minister of Parliament, sparked off a highly controversial debate on the theme of Obsessive work culture. 

Is Kangana Ranaut another cheerleader of hustle culture?

In response to a video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kangana was heard saying, “We need to normalise obsessive work culture and stop waiting for weekends and cribbing about mondays. That’s all western brainwashing. India is not a developed nation yet, we can’t afford to be bored and be lazy at all.”

In that video, the Indian PM had mentioned that his every moment is for the country and he would work round the clock to make India a developed country by 2047. 

Kangana Ranaut has origins in Himachal Pradesh’s Bhambla village in Mandi district. She was given a ticket by BJP for the post of a MP and was elected in this recently conducted 2024 Lok Sabha Election. 

Narayana Murthy asking youngsters to work 70 hours a week

After Software billionaire and founder of Infosys, N.R. Narayana Murthy asked his company’s employees to work 70 hours a week, the statement is now being supported by the newly appointed Minister. For this reason they are facing backlashes from everywhere from social media netizens to the general public.

Other Leaders and business persons favouring the motion

Along with them, Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company ‘s managing director, Shri Nilesh Shah recommended an 84 hour week for all Indian working professionals in the country through a podcast. The clip went viral and he was heard saying “Charlie Munger in one of his books said in Korea worked 84 hours per week for a generation. That means 12 hours a day, every day, every month, and every year.” He said that this would accelerate the country’s growth and help people to move the working people to middle and higher income levels.

In 2022, the founder of Bombay Shaving Company, Shantanu Deshpande faced online criticism when he suggested 18 hours work days in the early stages of a person’s career on LinkedIn. He went on to say that take it on the chin and be relentless. 

Do longer working hours translate into better productivity?

It is said by experts and doctors that working longer hours can lead to a decrease of productivity and affects both physical and mental health in a bad way. Working long hours often results in mental fatigue and other related health issues.

4-day workweek culture in some countries

Many foreign nations like Belgium, Denmark, Japan, Portugal, United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Australia have stressed on making a 4 day workweek culture in their country for all the companies. This has resulted in increasing the work efficiency and culture among the employees.