Shruti Suman
Actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut has recently expressed her views on the work culture in India, advocating for the normalization of an “obsessive work culture.” The BJP Member of Parliament stated that such a culture is necessary for a developing nation like India. Her comments were in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first address to his team in the PMO in Delhi following his oath-taking ceremony. In his speech, PM Modi emphasized the goal of putting the nation first and working towards a developed India by 2047, committing his every moment to the country’s progress.
Kangana Ranaut shared a video of the PM’s address on her Instagram story, said, “We need to normalise obsessive work culture and stop with the waiting for the weekends and crib about Mondays memes.” She criticized the prevalent attitude towards work, describing it as “Western brainwashing,” and asserted that as a developing nation, India cannot afford to be bored and lazy.
The debate on work culture has seen many industry leaders voicing their opinions. Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy recently sparked a social media storm with his suggestion that people should work 70 hours a week to enhance the country’s productivity and economic growth. Murthy highlighted that India’s work productivity is among the lowest globally and suggested that extended working hours, similar to those in Japan and Germany, could help the nation compete more effectively.
Adding to this discussion, Nilesh Shah, Managing Director of Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company, remarked that for India to accelerate its growth, a generation of workers should embrace a 12-hour workday, a practice common in countries like China, Korea, and Japan. Shah stated that an 84-hour work week would significantly boost the nation’s growth and aid in elevating people to middle and upper-income levels. He echoed Murthy’s sentiment, emphasizing the need for hard work to eradicate poverty and achieve substantial economic progress.
Kangana Ranaut’s political career began with her recent election as the BJP candidate from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi constituency for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. She secured her first electoral victory by defeating Vikramaditya Singh, the son of six-time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and state Congress chief Pratibha Singh.
