“Dear Millennials, Gen Z and Gen A…”: NPO boss’s defense of 90-hour work week that ‘built India’

A strong defense of the work ethic that built modern India came from Nishit Kumar, the MD of Center for Social and Behavior Change Communication, a Section 8 nonprofit public limited company.

Responding to criticism of a 90-hour work week suggestion by L&T chairman SN Subrahmanyan, Kumar urged the younger generation to rethink their stance on rush culture and recognize the sacrifices of those who came before them.

Addressing Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen A in a powerful post, Kumar wrote: “You can laugh all you want at Mr. Subrahmanya’s statement. You guys were not born in India in which we – he and I – we were born. You have no idea what it takes to build institutions.”

It painted a vivid picture of the challenges faced in a slower and pre-digital India.

“In 1984, I asked for a fixed line; in 1992, I received a letter that my fixed line was sanctioned,” he said. He emphasized the relentless determination of a generation that worked on weekends and holidays to create opportunities for the future.

“It was our generation that paved the way for Indians to grow in computer science and medicine in the world. Laugh at people like Narayana Murthy and Subrahmanya, who built and supported first-class institutions. Let’s see where bring India,” said Kumar.

While he recognized the importance of work-life balance, Kumar criticized the lack of context when he left the work ethic of the past.

“No one wants an organizational culture to be the norm. The balance of work and life is great and worth ensuring. But laugh at a work ethic that has built the great institutions of the country shows little understanding of what India was even 30 years ago.”

Kumar cited impressive examples of commitment and efficiency. Reliance’s Patalganga plant was completed in half the expected time, and ITC Maurya in Delhi was built in less than 12 months.

He also referred to Ratan Tata’s reflection on India’s work ethic: “In India, my senior team would not go home for a week during a crisis. But in the West, you cannot make no one work after lunch on Friday.

He concluded with a pointed observation: “Before you laugh at our senior professionals, think for a moment. And remember, the workers who build the roads, subways and shopping centers that you like do not have the luxury of a week of 5 days