Time and again, Anand Mahindra has supported innovators and creative minds whose jugaad technology has impressed the world. Now, in his words, he shared the news of how his company gifted a new vehicle to the Maharashtra blacksmith who had built a car by refurbishing old parts and scrap metal.
Dattatraya Lohar of Devrashtre village was noticed by the Mahindra Group chairman last month after a video of his iron car went viral. Lohar’s car, built from scratch, powered by a two-wheeler, autorickshaw tires, may have looked like a rugged jeep, but was efficient enough to impress everyone online.
“I will personally offer him a Bolero in exchange,” the business tycoon had tweeted, saying that sooner or later local authorities will stop him from driving the vehicle for flouting the rules.
As he had promised to preserve the man’s creation in the Mahindra Research Valley, the tycoon updated on Tuesday that the man accepted their offer and that he got a new SUV in exchange.
Glad he accepted the offer to exchange his car for a new Bolero. Yesterday his family received Boleron and we proudly took care of his creation. It will be part of our collection of cars of all kinds in our Research Valley and should inspire us to be resourceful. https://t.co/AswU4za6HT pic.twitter.com/xGtfDtl1K0
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) January 25, 2022
“Yesterday his family received a Bolero and we proudly took care of his creation. It will be part of our collection of cars of all kinds in our Research Valley and should inspire us to be resourceful,” he wrote, sharing some heartwarming photos.
Pictures showed Lohar along with his wife and children riding in their new family car.
When the video of his unusual vehicle went viral, the talented man had explained that he was building the car for his children who wanted to ride four-wheelers. But due to financial constraints, he could not afford one.
Local authorities will sooner or later stop him from driving the vehicle because it violates the regulations. I will personally offer him a Bolero in exchange. His creation can be seen on MahindraResearchValley to inspire us, because “resourcefulness” means doing more with less resources https://t.co/mibZTGjMPp
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) December 22, 2021
“This clearly does not meet any of the rules but I will never stop admiring the ingenuity and ‘more with less’ capabilities of our staff. And their passion for mobility – not to mention the familiar front grill,” the businessman had written and shared the video.
People on social media loved Mahindra’s gesture and said that the man’s car would surely inspire many engineers in years to come to build something as innovative as his creation.
This is inspiring for people in India to do some innovation even at grass root level, your action is really amazing. 👍
— bharat maru🇮🇳 (@bharatmaru8) January 25, 2022
I’m still thinking how to react to this whole episode?
Just within a month, this topic is logically concluded with humility and social responsibility.
Thanks @anandmahindra yup.
I see a message for each of us going forward: a message of social responsibility
🙏🙏
— Girish Kale 🇮🇳 (@MeGirishKale) January 25, 2022
You have done a lot to encourage innovators, most of whom come from humble backgrounds.
This is noble work.
Congratulations and congratulations.— Big Chief Keen-eyed Mole (@vin2ji) January 25, 2022
You are the man of commitments sir,Hats Off🙏. I remember your tweet regarding this creativity and then your promise to provide a new Bolero in exchange of the man made vehicle.
— Agrawal Rishi (@AgrawalRishi1) January 25, 2022
Well done Sir … maybe this will inspire him as well as others to innovate and create and inspire different vehicles in the future
— Nisha Arjun (@NishaArjunK) January 25, 2022
Wow.. Really a great way to encourage innovation at groud level Sir ji
— Niteeka Mishra (@NiteekaM) January 25, 2022
India needs “capable” visionaries with “engineering expertise”, to conduct R&D and manufacture cost-effective alternatives to many prohibitively expensive foreign medical products. A big void. “Mahindra” perhaps?
— Karan Madan (@drkaranmadan) January 25, 2022
.