Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal recently visited the Mahakumbh holy dip in Prayagraj and posted a picture of the experience on social media. Sharing it as “moment of deep spirituality, devotion, reflection, and connection to our civilisational roots,” the post by Aggarwal found an initial fanfare of praises. But shortly after, his post became trolling fodder and victim of scathing comments from users.
At Triveni Sangam, Prayagraj!
Feeling truly blessed to have experienced this moment of deep spirituality, devotion, reflection and connection to our civilisational roots 🙏 🕉️ pic.twitter.com/4yV1955G5L
— Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) February 17, 2025
Trolling Response to Spiritual Post
Aggarwal’s plunge in the sacred river and his consequent social media update soon took netizens aback, as many of them ridiculed him for his business woes. “Your company is making a fresh dip every week,” one made light of it, while another said, “Bhai, tere paapon ki koi maafi nahi hai,” ridiculing the CEO’s attempt at self-reflection. Some users even attributed his act of religious devotion to Ola’s recent business struggles, sarcastically remarking, “Nahi dhulega,” about the company’s troubles. Another user jokingly said, “Ola scooter ko bhi duba dete toh sayad acha hoo jaata.”
Bhavish Aggarwal vs Kunal Kamra
The online outrage isn’t the first time Bhavish Aggarwal has been criticized. Just last week, the CEO was at the center of another controversy, this time because of a social media spat with comedian Kunal Kamra. The controversy began after Aggarwal appreciated Amish Tripathi’s podcast “Sati – Fact or Fiction?” where the author challenged the historical practice of Sati, saying, “It’s hard to find any proof of Sati but very easy to find proof of witch burning in medieval Europe.”
Kamra, never shy, fired back with a caustic reply, noting, “Raja Ram Mohan Roy opposed the practice of Sati; it was banned in 1829. The last reported case of Sati in India was as recent as 1987. Kindly keep your cars on the road.” Kamra’s remark was a shot at Ola’s consistent issues with its electric scooter, which has been a contentious issue over the past few months. His reaction led people to question Aggarwal’s interest in historical matters and not the health of his company’s operations.
Public Perception and Ola’s Struggles
Aggarwal’s earlier comments about work-life balance also drew fire. Earlier in the week, he brushed off the conventional work-life balance paradigm, and the move was the subject of much controversy and exacerbated the public impression of his style of management. His critics continue to maintain that Aggarwal’s reputation as a publicly controversial figure diverts attention away from Ola’s troubles, particularly the electric car division, which has had performance and technical difficulties.
Leadership and Spirituality in Balance
The outrage around Aggarwal’s statements, both religious and professional, reflects India’s growing scrutiny of public figures. His efforts to project a more introspective persona by attending the Mahakumbh, a religious and cultural festival of huge importance, appear to have boomeranged with the public. Whether or not Aggarwal’s spiritual musings will bring comfort to his critics only time will tell, but one thing is certain: his leadership at Ola remains in the spotlight.
