Maharashtra is fighting drought and amid this, a Twitter user appealed to industrialist Anand Mahindra to shut down a fountain at Mahindra Group’d Mumbai office.
On March 28, the Twitter user Rohit Talwarkar tweeted this:
@anandmahindra fountain at mahindra towers at time of severe drought in Mah. Guess can be avoided pic.twitter.com/opQGT7TXXW
— Rohit Talwalkar (@rstalwalkar) March 29, 2016
Now, Anand Mahindra, chairman and managing director of Mahindra Group, is known to be a social media enthusiast and a prolific user on Twitter where he has three million followers.
Within a day, he responded to the request like this:
It’s recirculated water & no wastage. But you’re right, sends the wrong signal. We’ll shut it down. https://t.co/zGt4GTOvv3
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) March 29, 2016
The move was hailed by many of his followers, who congratulated him for being an inspirational leader.
@anandmahindra I’m consistently impressed by how attentive you are as a leader. Thanks for the inspiration.
— Jayson Elliot (@JaysonElliot) March 29, 2016
@anandmahindra @rstalwalkar wow sir glad to see person like you listening to common man and taking feedback positively,learnt something
— Tarun Chopra (@TarunInAction) March 29, 2016
However, not everyone agreed with Mahindra.
The discourse kinda changed after Amit Malviya, head of BJP’IT cell, commented this:
@anandmahindra We must stop being apologetic about such things. Stopping a fountain (reused water) isn’t going to solve the water crisis.
— Amit Malviya (@malviyamit) March 29, 2016
Support to Malviya followed, and many users pointed out that the fountain water was feeding parched birds.
@anandmahindra @rstalwalkar Look at the joy of birds around the fountain. I think it’s fine, as long as the water is not wasted.
— GaadiKey (@GaadiKey) March 29, 2016
@anandmahindra birds are quenching their thirst using that fountain water. If you shut it down… ?@rstalwalkar
— CJ (@CJoshi28) March 29, 2016
Well, even as debate on this small but sensitive act for farmers’ concerns continues on Mahindra’s post, it certainly reinforces his image of an inspirational icon who is responsive and open to feedback.
