Shahzad Ibrahimi, a doctorate from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), who runs a dhaba on its campus for his living, has just received the “biggest happiness” of his life — an invite to attend the swearing-in of Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi.
“A chaiwala has become PM. And he has remembered another chaiwala to witness it. I am overwhelmed. I am so happy. I cannot describe it,” he said.
The 41-year-old Ibrahimi has been reported numerous times in the media due to his academic credentials —— he has done his MA, M.Phil and then Ph.D from the prestigious university —— and the fact that all of that could not get him a good job.
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He ended up serving tea and snacks on the same campus. His ’Mamu’s Dhaba’ is a well-known joint there.
He got an invite after a leader of RLSP, a BJP ally in Bihar, shared his profile with Modi’s office, requesting it for an invite for him. And it was duly delivered.
“I hope under Modi, nobody with my academic credentials has to sell tea,” he says.
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A resident of Bihar, Ibrahimi came to Delhi to pursue higher studies, which he did, but could not then find a decent job. His dhaba, though, is a success.