17th January 2025 (9 Topics)
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Context
S N Subrahmanyan, Chairman of Larsen and Toubro (L&T), faced criticism for his suggestion on working long hours. His comments were misunderstood, leading to a debate on work culture in India. The author defends Subrahmanyan’s views and critiques the growing culture of vacation and holiday mania in the country.
Work Culture in India:
- Value of Hard Work: India’s ethos has traditionally emphasized hard work and duty over leisure. Concepts like Karmayog (work as worship) and devotion to one’s task are integral to the culture.
- Rejecting Vacation Mania: The culture of taking frequent vacations is a colonial hangover, where people were encouraged to adopt a lazy work culture during British rule.
- Ideal Leadership: The author references Prime Minister Modi’s tireless work ethic, suggesting that his example of not taking holidays should inspire the nation to adopt a diligent approach to work.
Economic and Social Implications:
- Work and National Prosperity: For India to become a global manufacturing hub and uplift the living standards of its people, there is a need for hard work and reduced focus on holidays.
- Impact of Public Holidays: Frequent holidays disrupt the economy, reduce productivity, and harm public work. Government declarations of holidays, especially for political reasons, contribute to economic stagnation.
- The Reality of the Workforce: Many people, especially in the unorganised sector, work tirelessly with little to no breaks. The author argues that instead of advocating for more holidays, society should respect such hard work and aim to lift people out of poverty.
Practice Question:
Q. Critically examine the growing culture of work-life balance in India. How does the emphasis on hard work contribute to national development, and what are its implications for the economy?
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