‘Unique’: Anand Mahindra Is All Praise For PhD Student Running Food Cart In Chennai

Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group, is known for motivating his followers with interesting content. Recently, he took to social media to express his admiration for a remarkable individual: a PhD food vendor from Chennai who captured the internet’s attention in September through a viral video shared by an American vlogger.

In the video, Christopher Lewis stumbled upon Tarul Rayan’s food cart in Chennai. In his vlog, Lewis documented their engaging conversation where he praised Rayan’s delicious dishes including Chicken 65 and chicken cutlets. What truly impressed Lewis was Rayan’s commitment to his academic pursuits as a PhD candidate in biotechnology while also managing his food cart. A standout moment occurs in the video when Rayan takes Lewis’s phone, leading the vlogger to think he would show about the social media mentions of his food stall. Instead, Rayan proudly displays his research papers.

Mahindra was particularly struck by this moment, expressing his admiration in a post. “This clip went viral a while ago. An American vlogger discovers a Ph.D candidate running a food stall, part-time. What struck me as truly special, however, was the end, when he picks up his phone & the vlogger thinks he’s going to show him social media mentions of his stall—but instead, he proudly shows him online the research papers he has authored! Incredible. Unique. Indian,” he wrote while sharing the video.

The video garnered significant attention online, sparking a range of reactions from social media users.

One user commented, “YES he is selling food, YES may be the system has let him down, YES such talented individuals should get what they deserve………..BUT the best thing is the PRIDE with which Rayan is handling the situation.”

Another highlighted, “This story showcases the incredible resilience of Indians. A PhD candidate running a food stall part-time and proudly sharing his research instead of social media praise speaks volumes about dedication. Truly embodies the spirit of hard work and excellence!”

“Instead of sulking, he setup his own food stall and prolly making enough to pay for his needs ! Well done and all the best to him,” someone else shared.

However, not everyone shared such positive reviews. Some users pointed out the harsher realities behind Rayan’s situation. One user voiced concern, stating, “This is not something to take pride in, Anand. I ensure I carefully reflect before posting anything that praises a broken system or capitalizes on someone’s hardships.”

“It is unfortunate that a qualified person is not getting work according to their abilities. This is a system-driven problem,” another added.

The video has accumulated over 4 million views so far.