Back in the 90s, Infosys wasn’t just a tech company—it was a way of life. Long workdays, tight-knit teams, and early overseas trips were all part of the grind, and a recent viral video of the Bengaluru canteen brought a wave of nostalgia. An ex-Infosys employee, reflecting on that era, shared his memories, showing just how different—and intense—those early days really were.
He recalled that employees in their 20s today are generally fitter and more health-conscious, while back then, smoking and drinking were far more common. Fifteen-hour workdays were routine, and he once clocked over 50 hours in the office. Yet, despite the grind, he described the experience as a great time to work, thanks to humbler backgrounds and the abundance of opportunities in the nascent IT industry. His first on-site trip happened before completing his first year, and several of his batchmates went even earlier.
Highlighting the unique spirit of Infosys Mangalore, he mentioned that the first 20 employees from his batch were featured in a recruitment ad in Udayavani just three months after joining. He fondly remembered the close-knit, fun culture there, which he contrasted with the big-city Bangalore office. For the company’s 25-year anniversary in 2020, he even recorded a song called Zindagi Milke Bitayenge for the celebration, embracing nostalgia with a modern twist.
Reflecting further, he emphasised that no generation is inherently better or worse than another—each is shaped by its circumstances. Nostalgia, he said, should not overshadow the present, and in years to come, a new generation will inspire similar conversations.
Since leaving Infosys, he has pursued his passion for Hindi film music, taking things a bit slower. He curates MySwar, a comprehensive repository of Hindi film songs, and has published seven volumes of BollySwar, an ebook series chronicling the history of Hindi film music.
About Zindagi Milke Bitayenge
Zindagi Milke Bitayenge is from the 1982 action-comedy Satte Pe Satta, featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, and Ranjeeta Kaur, and vocals by Kishore Kumar, Bhupinder Singh, Sapan Chakraborty, and Rahul Dev Burman.
Internet reacts
Internet users had a mix of admiration and curiosity. Many called the ex-Infosys employees the originals, praising their hard work and dedication. Some were eager to hear about his career trajectory and financial journey after Infosys. Several noted that the 90s truly represented a golden era for IT, comparing the effort to earlier decades of steel, power, and industry. Others reflected that back then, long hours came naturally with fewer distractions, unlike today. Many agreed it was an aspirational job with unmatched learning opportunities, and a few even joked about whether he had become a crorepati since those early days.
He recalled that employees in their 20s today are generally fitter and more health-conscious, while back then, smoking and drinking were far more common. Fifteen-hour workdays were routine, and he once clocked over 50 hours in the office. Yet, despite the grind, he described the experience as a great time to work, thanks to humbler backgrounds and the abundance of opportunities in the nascent IT industry. His first on-site trip happened before completing his first year, and several of his batchmates went even earlier.
I'm ex-Infosys from that period. 20 somethings now are fitter, more health conscious than we were. I think there were more smokers/drinkers then amongst us. (Although there are more women smokers/drinkers now than in the 90s/2000s). We slogged like hell. 15 hr workday was… https://t.co/mYYPtvkVvD
— Param Arunachalam (@taparam) October 19, 2025
Highlighting the unique spirit of Infosys Mangalore, he mentioned that the first 20 employees from his batch were featured in a recruitment ad in Udayavani just three months after joining. He fondly remembered the close-knit, fun culture there, which he contrasted with the big-city Bangalore office. For the company’s 25-year anniversary in 2020, he even recorded a song called Zindagi Milke Bitayenge for the celebration, embracing nostalgia with a modern twist.
Reflecting further, he emphasised that no generation is inherently better or worse than another—each is shaped by its circumstances. Nostalgia, he said, should not overshadow the present, and in years to come, a new generation will inspire similar conversations.
Since leaving Infosys, he has pursued his passion for Hindi film music, taking things a bit slower. He curates MySwar, a comprehensive repository of Hindi film songs, and has published seven volumes of BollySwar, an ebook series chronicling the history of Hindi film music.
About Zindagi Milke Bitayenge
Zindagi Milke Bitayenge is from the 1982 action-comedy Satte Pe Satta, featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, and Ranjeeta Kaur, and vocals by Kishore Kumar, Bhupinder Singh, Sapan Chakraborty, and Rahul Dev Burman.
Internet reacts
Internet users had a mix of admiration and curiosity. Many called the ex-Infosys employees the originals, praising their hard work and dedication. Some were eager to hear about his career trajectory and financial journey after Infosys. Several noted that the 90s truly represented a golden era for IT, comparing the effort to earlier decades of steel, power, and industry. Others reflected that back then, long hours came naturally with fewer distractions, unlike today. Many agreed it was an aspirational job with unmatched learning opportunities, and a few even joked about whether he had become a crorepati since those early days.
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