Are Indians The Most Overworked People On Earth? Netizens Debate Over Viral Post Claim
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His observation, made in response to a conversation about reservation and employment, has sparked wide-ranging responses online
A viral post on social media platform X has reignited discussions around work culture, education pressure, and social mobility in India. The comment, made by user named, Akshat Shrivastava, claimed that 'Indians are the most overworked people on earth. Not by choice. But, by system."
His observation, made in response to a conversation about reservation and employment, has sparked wide-ranging responses online — from agreement to criticism, and everything in between.
In a detailed post, Shrivastava outlined why he believes this pattern of overwork is deeply embedded in Indian society. He wrote: 'Kids studying for IITs would easily study 10-12 hours/day. This ability to 'slog" continues at work. This habit to 'slog" continues in adult life… While their European colleagues would have 'down time", Indians would sacrifice their sleep, family and health, to serve their company."
Shrivastava pointed to the pressures young Indians face early in life, stating that the drive to overwork often stems from a lack of options and economic security.
'What's the root cause of all this? Well, it comes down to building survival instincts from a young age. Many hardworking kids have no choice but to slog. Build merit–> build a better life. That's their only option to a better life."
His post was a reply to another user, Ravi, who had commented on the reservation system, stating that general category students do not lose seats to reserved category applicants, but to other general category candidates.
Shrivastava's response quickly went viral, sparking a flurry of reactions. Some users supported his perspective, agreeing that Indian society encourages relentless effort from a young age.
'Indians don't hustle out of ambition. They hustle because the system taught them there's no safety net, only grind or fall," a comment read.
'Glorifying 'slogging' as the only path feels like accepting a broken system. Isn't the real tragedy that survival depends on such extremes?," another user responded.
Others, however, pushed back against the idea that overwork should be normalised. 'Hard work is not a problem. Mindset is. Indians need to know: hard work isn't always the key to success — leverage is."
'Indians are often trapped in a cycle of relentless hard work, chasing middle-class stability without questioning the true return on investment for their efforts. The grind for IIT or NIT can open doors, but why does the pressure to top the class start so early, robbing teens of their youth?," another added.
One user sharply criticised Shrivastava for lacking social insight, despite his strong grasp of financial matters: 'I've never seen someone so brilliantly astute when it comes to financial literacy and that part of the horizon and then be a completely oblivious illiterate when it comes to social aspects. just fascinating that someone can be this knowledgeable and this ignorant at the same time."
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