The work-life balance debate is back after Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan sparked a controversy with his remarks in favor of a 90-hour work week.
His comment, “how long can you look at your wife”, was widely criticized, drawing strong reactions from business executives and the public.
Amid this storm, Info Edge founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani shared a surprising and personal encounter with Subrahmanyan, highlighting a different side of the L&T chairman.
“A few months ago I received an email out of the blue. I had never met Mr. Subrahmanyan, but it is not every day that the chairman of a giant like L&T asks to meet him. So I went,” Bikhchandani wrote in an article on X.
For an hour, Subrahmanyan discussed entrepreneurship, startups and digital transformation. “There was no agenda except that he wanted to learn,” Bikhchandani said. “He struck me as humble and gracious, sharing stories about his career and family.”
Towards the end of their meeting, Bikhchandani asked Subrahmanyan about L&T’s cash reserves. “He gave me a crazy number: ₹50,000 crore, I think. I advised him to invest part of it wisely in startups. India needs domestic venture capital, and a company with a track record like L&T could lead the way.”
Bikhchandani explained how investments in companies like Zomato and PolicyBazaar have generated significant returns for Info Edge. “We agreed to meet again to discuss ideas. I came away impressed. He even walked me to my car.
While Bikhchandani’s account portrays Subrahmanyan as approachable and eager to learn, his comments about the work week sparked outrage. Industry leaders like Harsh Goenka and Harsh Mariwala criticized the idea, emphasizing the importance of quality work for full hours. “Work-life balance is not optional; it’s essential,” Goenka said.
Billionaire Gautam Adani recently offered a more balanced view, suggesting that individuals set their own work-life priorities. “If you and your family are happy, that’s what matters,” Adani noted.
