Lalu's pathshala a hit among Americans

What really floored the students, who were here as part of their course, apart from the Indian hospitality and culture was Lalu's offer to them to join the Railways.

They bowled googlies and bouncers but the master batsman in Railway Minister Lalu Prasad knocked out a group of MBA students from America on Friday with his rustic "humbleness" and an offer to them to join a resurgent Indian Railways.

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The students from the Universities of Texas and Virginia came to know about the "fairytale turnaround" of the behemoth Indian Railways from a loss-making entity to a profit-making one and 'guru' Lalu certainly did not disappoint them.

During the 50-minute interaction at the Railway Museum in the Capital, he shared the "success story" and told the guests, many of them Indians, in a mix of Hindi, English and Bhojpuri that there is no "magic wand" in his hand and it all happened because of the hardwork of his employees.
He faced questions ranging from steps to check pollution, sustainability of the success saga, his vision and plans for the future, cleanliness in Indian trains, role of private players and and above all his message to management students.

"He put it all on the employees. He said he does not deserve all the credit and it was the effort of around 14 lakh employees that saved the railways from breaking down," Texas University student Omar Ghalayini said. "I told them that when Lord Krishna lifted Govardhan he got the help of thousands of villagers. The railways is like a family and if it is reaping profits now it is because of the hardwork of employees," Lalu later told reporters.

But what really floored the students, who were here as part of their course, apart from the Indian hospitality and culture was Lalu's offer to them to join the Railways.