From successful business to auto driver: Why this man is Anand Mahindra’s ‘start-up hero’

Anand Mahindra’s “start-up hero” is not some billionaire entrepreneur or pioneering inventor, but an auto rickshaw driver who rebuilt his life from scratch after losing everything. “What he has done takes much more spirit and courage than just starting up a business—he has restarted and reinvented his life…not just once, but twice…” wrote the chairman of Mahindra Group as he shared the story of Paramjeet Singh.

Once the sole distributor of soft drink concentrate Rasna, Paramjeet Singh was a well-known figure in Delhi, especially in the Lajpat Nagar neighbourhood where he owned a large godown. But Singh lost everything in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

According to an account of his life shared by one Anil Madan a few years ago on Facebook, which was reposted on Twitter recently by The Better India, Paramjeet Singh lost his godown, eight autos and dealership in the 1984 riots.

He tried working with various food companies after that, but nothing worked out, so Singh decided to restart his life by driving a taxi. He bought a taxi and started a new chapter of life, but Singh was confronted with another tragedy a few years later.

While driving down from Mussoorie, he met with a terrible accident which left him with multiple fractures. He was in a coma for 13 days, and took 3 months to recover, followed by another 3.5 months of physiotherapy.

Singh recovered from his injuries, but his car was completely destroyed in the accident. Never one to give up, he started from scratch from the second time. This time, Singh bought an auto rickshaw, which he reportedly continues to drive till date.

Anand Mahindra was full of praise for Singh’s grit and determination as he shared his story on Twitter. “He’s my start-up hero,” wrote the 67-year-old industrialist.

He is my ‘Start-up’ hero. What he has done takes much more spirit & courage then just starting up a business—he has restarted & reinvented his life…not just once, but twice… https://t.co/lTieWbRsBH

— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) July 25, 2022

Anand Mahindra is an active Twitter user who often shares inspiring stories that catch his eye. Recently, he gave a shout-out to a Mumbai woman who turned her love for food into a flourishing business.