In the age of social media, criticism comes fast and often without filters. But how you respond to it says everything about who you are. That’s exactly what Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra showed once again, with humility, grace, and a bit of fire.
It all began when a user on X (formerly Twitter) went off on Mahindra’s cars—calling them “ugly,” “unreliable,” and even comparing them unfavourably to Hyundai. His post didn’t hold back.
He labelled Mahindra’s designs as having “gobar (dung) kinda aesthetics,” and bluntly declared that only people who don’t research or care about quality would choose Mahindra over others.
Harsh? Very. But here’s what makes this story stand out.
Instead of getting defensive or lashing back, Anand Mahindra responded with calm confidence. He shared a screenshot of the now-deleted tweet and acknowledged the user’s criticism without brushing it off. In fact, he used it as an opportunity to reflect—and educate.
He reminded people that back in 1991, when India had just opened up its economy, global consultants had advised Mahindra to exit the car business altogether. “Three decades later, we are still around and competing fiercely,” he said, making it clear that Mahindra has been proving the doubters wrong ever since.
Rather than silence the critic, he thanked him for “fueling the fire in our bellies.” He admitted that Mahindra still had a long road ahead and that there’s “no room for complacency.” Now that’s how you turn negativity into motivation.
Interestingly, the critic later had a change of heart. He called Mahindra’s response “sweet” and admitted that his original post may have gone too far. He even deleted the tweet after receiving a call from Mahindra’s team, suggesting that the company still values professionalism—even when dealing with harsh feedback.
What stands out here isn’t the argument over car designs or who makes the better SUV. It’s how a leader like Anand Mahindra handled criticism. Instead of brushing it off or going into PR mode, he leaned in. He didn’t boast. He reflected, acknowledged, and inspired.
That’s leadership and yes, while Mahindra’s new EVs like the XEV 9e (priced at Rs 21.90 lakh) are making headlines, it’s this kind of open-mindedness and humility that will probably keep the brand growing—no matter what the critics say.