Obama's invitation to 'Bihar's Rickshaw Man'
| Friday,05 February 2010, 21:48 hrs
|
Patna: It might looks specious, but it is true that Irfan Alam, known as 'Bihar's Rickshaw Man' has got the invitation to meet U.S. President Barack Obama later this year in Washington. The conference he's been asked to attend in the U.S. brings entrepreneurs together, reports NDTV.
Alam, who graduated from Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad has been runnig Samman, which works with 10,000 rickshaw pullers across 10 states. They operate as part of a superior-service brand, providing newspapers and mineral water to their customers. Timothy J Roemer, the U.S. Ambassador said, "People like Irfan have proved that the spirit of entrepreneurship is alive, even in states like Bihar. At the same time, he is also running a profitable business, and it will be an honour to have him in America."

For Irfan all these things don't matter, as he got some bigger plans. "The next challenge for me is to also help these rickshaw-pullers have their own low-cost homes, to give them the right to roti, kapda and makaan in the right sense," said Irfan.
Alam, who graduated from Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad has been runnig Samman, which works with 10,000 rickshaw pullers across 10 states. They operate as part of a superior-service brand, providing newspapers and mineral water to their customers. Timothy J Roemer, the U.S. Ambassador said, "People like Irfan have proved that the spirit of entrepreneurship is alive, even in states like Bihar. At the same time, he is also running a profitable business, and it will be an honour to have him in America."

For Irfan all these things don't matter, as he got some bigger plans. "The next challenge for me is to also help these rickshaw-pullers have their own low-cost homes, to give them the right to roti, kapda and makaan in the right sense," said Irfan.
Reader's comments (32)
1: Dear Mr. Irfan
Congratulations
Not because Obama invited you, but you are really doing a nice job. Keep it up. We are also learning from you. And we will try to follow you in some way at least.
Mahfooz
Congratulations
Not because Obama invited you, but you are really doing a nice job. Keep it up. We are also learning from you. And we will try to follow you in some way at least.
Mahfooz
Posted by: Mahfooz - 17 Feb, 2010
2: Congratulations Irfan and to those sivasena
activists must look that it is neither Bihar
or Maharastra nor Hindu or Muslims that
counts it is just the TALENT through out the
country that makes India as a nation proud.
Posted by: krishna - 15 Feb, 2010
3: Irfan Alam, You are the inspiration for all
of us... Thanks you for makeing me to thing
once again to do some thing Special or Simple
work :)
Posted by: Arjun - 12 Feb, 2010
4: No job is too small & No work is too
hard.Keep it up Irfan.
Posted by: Aspi Nirumvala - 12 Feb, 2010
5: You are simply awesome! You made us proud
Irfan! Keep up the good work.
Jai Hind!
Jai Hind!
Posted by: Ankit Singh - 10 Feb, 2010
6: it is great idea. your work is really
appriciable
Posted by: yasir arafat - 10 Feb, 2010
7: This is a brilliant idea! Hope ur thoughts
will inspire many. nd hope this would be
spreading to other parts of the country...
Posted by: Srikant - 08 Feb, 2010
8: bro ur great....ur our inspiration..keep it
on..
Posted by: pradeep - 08 Feb, 2010
9: hats off to Irfan. Its gives an inspiration
to many youngsters.These kind of articles
inspire them to do lots of things to uplift
the poor.
Posted by: santhosh - 08 Feb, 2010
10: If only more such IIM, IIT & Medical
Graduates could connect back to the soil /
villages, the problem that could not be
solved by governments even after collecting
trillions in tax money during 63.5 yrs
post-independence -that of Roti, Kapda &
Makaan, would have been resolved long, long
ago.
Posted by: SPG - 07 Feb, 2010
12: Thats great job. You are true inspiration to
a lot of folks.
I would like to know what motivated him to start this and how he started it. It will be helpful to a lot of folks if the article talks about what type of hurdles he faced while he was implementing and how he resolved them.
I would like to know what motivated him to start this and how he started it. It will be helpful to a lot of folks if the article talks about what type of hurdles he faced while he was implementing and how he resolved them.
Posted by: venkat - 07 Feb, 2010
13: Your hard work is really appreciated your
thoughtful idea of giving food and shelter to
the rickshaw pullers shows that you are a
true Indian . Hopefully, politicians realize
your mindful thought and let them learn a
lesson from you. You are great. Jai Ho.
Posted by: Amsaveni - 07 Feb, 2010

14:I do think here is a lesson to learn Writing
Jai Hanuman and Jai Sri Ram also wins prizes
in Thamasha market
Sanju replied to: Amsaveni
post - 09 Feb, 2010
post - 09 Feb, 2010
15: Irfan Great you are, the thought of maiking
one capable fo earning roti, Kapda &
makan is a very wonderful thought. God bless
you
Posted by: Jose Varghese - 07 Feb, 2010
16: People like these are india's representatives
in world... Abudl Kalam like gentlemen...
RS
RS
Posted by: Ram S Iyer - 06 Feb, 2010
17: all the best buddy ... hats off to your idea
& implementation of that.. wish you all
the best for your future endeavor..
Hope i get chance to meet you in patna some time...
Hope i get chance to meet you in patna some time...
Posted by: Vivek - 06 Feb, 2010
18: you are awsome yaar.....wish you all the best
Posted by: mahboob - 06 Feb, 2010

19:This is in true sense of 'social
entrepreneurship' and much needs to be done.
Bravo!
Mukesh replied to: mahboob
post - 06 Feb, 2010
post - 06 Feb, 2010
20: i am very happy to note this achievements. we
really need people like you. if media gives
more light on such matters and not what
sivasena is telling it would be a better
world.
Posted by: vijaya - 06 Feb, 2010
21: Congratulations Irfan Alam, it is a great job
you are doing good luck.
Posted by: Rizwan Khan - 06 Feb, 2010
22: Dear Irfan,
Your work really made me proud. You have applied the principles of management where it is required most. Lal Salam to you. I wish you all success.
Your work really made me proud. You have applied the principles of management where it is required most. Lal Salam to you. I wish you all success.
Posted by: Prof.K.Prabhakar - 06 Feb, 2010
23: dear ur work is really appriciable....
i salute ur work......
i salute ur work......
Posted by: aakash - 06 Feb, 2010
24: Dear Irfan,
We wish you all the best in your future endevors. Keep it up.
We wish you all the best in your future endevors. Keep it up.
Posted by: Pankaj Srivastava - 06 Feb, 2010
25: Dear Irfan
You rock... i saw the US ambassador to India riding your ricksahw with elan. you acheivement is spectacular given the improvement at grassroot level in a sustainable way. we need more Irfans here. Way to go man.
You rock... i saw the US ambassador to India riding your ricksahw with elan. you acheivement is spectacular given the improvement at grassroot level in a sustainable way. we need more Irfans here. Way to go man.
Posted by: saurabh jha - 06 Feb, 2010
26: man ur really awesome....how this idea comes
in ur mind and how u can apply d same.....
whatever u did till date is really
speechless...congrats....for u all i can say
is...sky has no limit.
Posted by: amit - 06 Feb, 2010
27: Dear Irfan,
We Indians are proud of you, please keep up.For lowa cost housing in mud please contact Habitat international Kerala.
Wish you all the best.
Vinod Desai
Versova,Mumbai
We Indians are proud of you, please keep up.For lowa cost housing in mud please contact Habitat international Kerala.
Wish you all the best.
Vinod Desai
Versova,Mumbai
Posted by: Vinod Desai - 06 Feb, 2010
28: You are daredevil and defined
enterprenaureship by your own
Posted by: Gurudatt kumar - 06 Feb, 2010
29: Congratulations Irfan Alam. This will give
wider exposure and recognition all over the
world so that you can march ahead with your
mission. Again kudos.
Dr.A.Jagadeesh Nellore(AP)
Dr.A.Jagadeesh Nellore(AP)
Posted by: Dr.A.Jagadeesh - 05 Feb, 2010

30:Congratulations.Keep the spirits up and keep
going !!
Mohamed Ameer Irshad H replied to: Dr.A.Jagadeesh
post - 05 Feb, 2010
post - 05 Feb, 2010

31: Dear Irfan,
This is really such an idea which changed life of downtrodden people and invoked and instilled a sense of respect within them but sustainibility also matters. In patna at the outset it was good but now a kind of enthusiasm is lacking among Samman load bearers.
This is really such an idea which changed life of downtrodden people and invoked and instilled a sense of respect within them but sustainibility also matters. In patna at the outset it was good but now a kind of enthusiasm is lacking among Samman load bearers.
Kaushal replied to: Mohamed Ameer Irshad H
post - 06 Feb, 2010
post - 06 Feb, 2010

32: Dear Irfan,
Keep up the Good work. I am sure that you have many more plans and wish you good luck.
Simha
Keep up the Good work. I am sure that you have many more plans and wish you good luck.
Simha
Jayasimha replied to: Kaushal
post - 08 Feb, 2010
post - 08 Feb, 2010
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