A now-viral LinkedIn post by Hyderabad-based Cleanrooms Containments founder and CEO Ravikumar Tummalacharla has set the country talking on India’s holiday culture, productivity, and how the nature of work is changing in a diverse society.
In his post, Tummalacharla voiced his concern over what he called an excessive number of holidays in April 2025. “Too many holidays, no work moving!” he declared, arguing that the combination of public, optional holidays and weekends had stalled operations in many offices.
“In just April 2025, we’ve had 10+ holidays, and most offices are seeing no file movement for weeks,” said Tummalacharla.
Carrying his message ahead, he appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Labour Ministry to re-evaluate India’s holiday framework. Comparing India with China, he stated, “China is 60 years ahead because they focus on economic momentum. In India, we tend to move abroad for more streamlined systems and quicker processes. It’s time we find a better balance.”
The Internet Reacts Loudly
The post soon gained popularity on LinkedIn, eliciting a combination of support and heated criticism. Some empathized with Tummalacharla’s entrepreneurial perspective, but others criticized him for simplifying a complicated issue.
One of the users pointedly asked, “Is canceling Diwali, Eid, and Good Friday your answer to increasing GDP? It’s not holidays that destroy productivity—it’s bad systems and old processes.”
Some questioned him for counting weekends. “Looks like your office operates 24/7. Most private firms have a five-day workweek,” someone noted.
Most noted that pitting India against China overlooks important cultural and political distinctions. “India needs customized solutions. Rather than looking at holidays as hurdles, why not streamline workflow better around them?”
Tummalacharla Clarifies: “Ease Can Dull Ambition
In a subsequent posting, Ravikumar Tummalacharla came in defense of his position, maintaining that his gripe wasn’t with festivals per se, but with the destruction of work rhythm. “When you manage an organisation, your perspective shifts,” he posted. “Our grandparents struggled to stay alive. We want comfort these days and grumble still.”
He clarified he was not advocating for burnout and excessive overtime but cautioning against so-called “too much ease” that stifles ambition and productivity, according to him.
Discussing ideas that AI and automation could fill in gap work during holidays, Tummalacharla asserted, “AI can’t build roads, guard borders, or treat patients. India still needs people working during holidays so others can get rest.”
He concluded his post by issuing a challenge: “Are we overdoing holidays? Do we really care about them, or merely pursue long weekends? India needs more contributors, not critics.”
Final Thoughts
The controversy evoked by Ravikumar Tummalacharla exposes an underlying conflict in the heart of contemporary India—between a call for global efficiency and the conservation of cultural identity and equilibrium.
Instead of cutting holidays, maybe the emphasis should be on constructing more efficient systems—putting money into technology, cutting red tape, and designing flexible workflows that respond to India’s lively, rich culture.
Because productivity isn’t about working more—it’s about working smarter, and working in concert.
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