Read and Respond – Question & Answer
1. Which incident shows that Irfan had a problem-solving skill?
Irfan showed his problem-solving skill when he noticed that a rickshaw puller didn’t carry water bottles because he couldn’t afford them. Irfan immediately thought of an idea and started giving water bottles to rickshaw pullers to sell. They shared the profit, and this small idea gave him a profit of eight rupees on the first day itself. This shows his sharp thinking and ability to find solutions.
2. Why does Irfan think that entrepreneurship is in his blood?
Irfan thinks that entrepreneurship is in his blood because he had a strong interest in business from a young age. Even during the 1992 stock market scam, when he was a child, he researched companies and gave investment advice to his father’s friends. They made profits using his advice, which helped him start a portfolio management firm at just 13 years old.
3. What encouraged Irfan to open his own portfolio management firm?
Irfan was encouraged to open his own portfolio management firm when he successfully helped his father’s friends recover their money lost in the stock market. They started making profits using his advice. This early success gave him confidence and motivation to start his own business at a young age.
4. What was Irfan’s prize-winning business proposal?
His proposal was to organise the unorganised rickshaw sector into a profitable business. He suggested redesigning rickshaws to create space for advertisements and to let rickshaw pullers sell items like water, juice, biscuits, and mobile cards to earn extra income. This idea won him the “Business Baazigar” reality show.
5. Why did Irfan refuse the prize money of the TV reality show?
Irfan refused the prize money because the organisers didn’t agree with his idea of running the business as a not-for-profit organisation. He wanted to provide uniforms, ID cards, and insurance for rickshaw pullers and use the money for social good. Since the organisers had a different vision, he gave up the seed money.
6. Where did Irfan get the seed money for his project?
Irfan received the seed money for his project from family and friends who supported his vision. He used this to start SammaaN Foundation in 2007.
7. What kind of facilities does SammaaN offer the rickshaw pullers?
SammaaN provides training in traffic rules and etiquette, helps them get bank loans, and offers ID cards, uniforms, accident and health insurance. It also allows them to earn extra money through advertising on rickshaws and selling goods like water and snacks.
8. What are the ‘other benefits’ offered to the rickshaw pullers besides monetary benefits?
Besides money, SammaaN gives the rickshaw pullers a sense of dignity, inclusion, and empowerment. Their families get access to free evening classes through SammaaN Gyaan. They become part of a community and gain social respect.
9. What are the other activities of SammaaN Foundation?
SammaaN is involved in:
- Providing education for the families of rickshaw pullers
- Helping them become self-sufficient
- Working on environment-friendly transportation like solar-powered, fibreglass rickshaws
10. Why does Irfan think that the rickshaw is not a dying breed of transportation?
Irfan believes rickshaws are still popular, especially in cities like New Delhi where their numbers have gone up by 20% in 2–3 years. They are used widely to travel to metro stations. He sees them as eco-friendly and efficient transport and believes they have a strong future.
11. What do you understand by ‘solar-powered rickshaws’?
Solar-powered rickshaws are rickshaws that run using solar energy instead of manual effort or fuel. They are designed to be environment-friendly, reduce pollution, and make transportation easier for rickshaw pullers.
12. What is Irfan’s suggestion to tackle unemployment in our country?
Irfan suggests that students and young people should seriously consider entrepreneurship as a career option. By creating businesses, they can create jobs for themselves and others, which will help reduce unemployment in India.
Think and Write
1. What qualities, do you think, should an entrepreneur possess?
An entrepreneur should have creativity, courage, and problem-solving ability. They must be ready to take risks and face failures without giving up. A good entrepreneur also needs to be hard-working, innovative, and visionary. Communication skills, leadership, and empathy are also very important, especially when working with people from weaker sections of society.
2. Why do people discourage youth from choosing the path of entrepreneurship?
People often discourage youth from becoming entrepreneurs because they feel it is risky and uncertain. Many parents want their children to take up safe and secure jobs like government jobs or company placements. Also, they may think that starting a business requires a lot of money and experience, which young people may not have. Some may not understand the power of innovation and self-employment, so they hesitate to support this path.
3. Irfan Alam says “It is important to take risks to achieve your dreams.” Comment on this statement.
This is a true and powerful statement. If we want to achieve big things in life, we must be ready to face uncertainty and challenges. Irfan Alam took many bold steps, like rejecting prize money, inventing a new business model, and working for poor rickshaw pullers. He took a risk, but his vision and commitment helped him succeed. Taking smart and planned risks is often the only way to make dreams come true.
4. What are your dreams in life? How do you plan to pursue your dreams?
I dream of becoming a social worker who helps poor and unprivileged children get quality education. I want to start a free learning centre in a village where children can learn English, computers, and life skills. I will first complete my higher education and gain experience by working with NGOs. Then, I will slowly start my own organisation using small donations and government support. I will keep learning and improving my work with dedication.
5. Have you read or heard of other young and successful entrepreneurs? Share their stories in your class.
Yes, I have read about Ritesh Agarwal, the founder of OYO Rooms. He started his business when he was just 19 years old. His idea was to offer affordable and comfortable hotel rooms to travelers. Though he faced many failures in the beginning, he kept trying and finally made his business a success. Today, OYO operates in many countries and has changed the hotel industry. Like Irfan Alam, Ritesh also followed a different path and became successful by solving a common problem.
Activity I – Write an Email
Q: Imagine that you are very much impressed by Irfan’s ideas. Write an e-mail to him appreciating his unique ideas and expressing your wish to visit the SammaaN Foundation.
To: irfan.alam@sammaanfoundation.in
Subject: Appreciation for Your Innovative Ideas and Request to Visit SammaaN Foundation
Dear Irfan Sir,
I recently read about your inspiring journey in the article A Three-Wheeled Revolution. I was deeply impressed by your innovative approach to helping rickshaw pullers and giving them dignity, empowerment, and a better life. Your vision of turning a simple idea into a powerful social enterprise is truly motivating.
I admire the way you turned problems into opportunities and used entrepreneurship to make a social impact. I especially liked how you included advertisements and small sales in rickshaws to increase their income. Your work proves that even one person can bring a big change in society.
I would be very happy and honored to visit the SammaaN Foundation and learn more about your work. I am sure the visit will be a great learning experience for me.
Wishing you all the best in your efforts.
Warm regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Class/School]
Activity II – Write a Letter of Appreciation
Q: Write a formal letter to Irfan Alam expressing your appreciation for his unique contribution to society.
Your Address:
Green Valley School,
Kozhikode, Kerala – 673001
Date: 21 June 2025
To
Mr. Irfan Alam
Chairman, SammaaN Foundation
Patna, Bihar
Subject: Appreciation for your outstanding contribution to society
Dear Sir,
I am writing this letter to sincerely appreciate your innovative contribution to the betterment of society. Your idea of organizing the rickshaw sector into a successful and respectful enterprise is truly inspiring. You have proved that one can bring about real change by using creativity and compassion.
Your efforts in creating SammaaN Foundation have helped thousands of rickshaw pullers gain a dignified livelihood. Providing uniforms, ID cards, insurance, and extra income sources shows your thoughtful approach toward their well-being.
Your story is not just a business success, but a model of social responsibility. I salute your courage and determination and hope to follow your example someday.
With respect and best wishes,
Yours faithfully,
[Your Full Name]
Class XII – English
Activity III – Prepare a Short Speech
Q: Imagine that you are the leader of your school’s entrepreneurship club. Prepare a speech introducing Irfan Alam as a guest speaker.
Speech:
Good morning everyone,
It gives me great pleasure to welcome an extraordinary personality to our school – Mr. Irfan Alam, the founder of the SammaaN Foundation. He is not only an innovative entrepreneur but also a true social reformer.
At a young age, Irfan Sir identified a simple problem faced by rickshaw pullers and turned it into a powerful idea. He believed that even people at the lowest level of society could live with dignity and earn more if given the right support. His business model included redesigning rickshaws for advertising and sales, which helped increase the income of the pullers while making them part of an organized and proud community.
What makes Irfan Sir special is not just his business success but his care for people. He gave importance to training, uniforms, and education for the families of the workers. His journey is proof that success is not only about profit, but about purpose.
Dear friends, let us welcome Mr. Irfan Alam with great respect and admiration.
Thank you.
Activity IV – Identify Facts and Opinions
1. Say whether these statements are facts (F) or opinions (O):
a. The fastest land-dwelling creature is the Cheetah. – F
b. Facebook was launched in 2004. – F
c. Switzerland is the most beautiful country in the world. – O
d. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince sold 9 million copies in 24 hours. – F
e. Oranges contain both calcium and vitamin C. – F
f. The more money someone has the more successful they are. – O
g. It is cheaper to buy mobile phones online. – O
h. People should be encouraged to eat vegetarian food. – O
2. Facts and Opinions from the Paragraph on Bullet Trains
Facts:
- Shinkansen trains connect major cities of Japan.
- Bullet trains are punctual and leave on time to the second.
- In 35 years, they had only a few accidents and no deaths.
Opinions:
- Bullet trains are a good way to travel.
- They are more comfortable because all seats face forward.
- It is often more convenient to take a bullet train than a flight.
3. Three Facts and Three Opinions from Irfan Alam’s Interview
Facts:
- Irfan Alam founded SammaaN Foundation in 2007.
- He won the “Business Baazigar” reality show.
- SammaaN provides uniforms and ID cards to rickshaw pullers.
Opinions:
- Irfan believes rickshaws are the vehicles of the future.
- He says entrepreneurship is in his blood.
- He thinks empowering the poor leads to a better society.
Activity V – Understanding Idioms
1. Rewrite the following idiomatic sentences in plain English:
a. Our plan did not work out well. So we have to go back to square one.
→ Our plan failed, so we have to start all over again from the beginning.
b. I don’t know how much we will have to invest, but to give you a ballpark number, it should be 50 lakhs.
→ I am not sure of the exact amount, but an approximate estimate is 50 lakhs.
c. Every member of the team should have a big picture of the project in mind.
→ Every team member should understand the project as a whole.
d. It’s nice to go on a trip. It will be a change of place for all of us.
→ It’s good to go on a trip. It will help us break the routine and refresh ourselves.
e. Let’s get down to business and talk about the deal.
→ Let’s start discussing the deal seriously.
f. The iPhone was a ground-breaking piece of technology when it was released in 2008.
→ The iPhone introduced something completely new and revolutionary in 2008.
g. In a nutshell, this book is about how to motivate teenagers.
→ Simply put, this book explains how to inspire teenagers.
h. To avoid paying taxes, they paid some of their employees under the table.
→ They paid some employees secretly and illegally to avoid paying taxes.
i. Our new employee is good at thinking out of the box.
→ Our new employee has creative and original ideas.
j. Stay on your toes. Anything can happen.
→ Stay alert and be ready for anything.
2. Replace the underlined phrases with suitable idioms:
Idioms to use:
add insult to injury, once in a blue moon, the last straw, sit on the fence, miss the boat
a. I go to theatres very rarely, only when there is a movie I really want to see.
→ I go to theatres once in a blue moon.
b. The committee could not make decisions, and delayed the result.
→ The committee sat on the fence, and delayed the result.
c. She has always been rude, but when she insulted my mother, I could not take it anymore.
→ When she insulted my mother, it was the last straw.
d. He was upset about not being a finalist. Then the finalists had a party near his house, which made him feel worse.
→ That added insult to injury.
e. I didn’t invest in that stock, and it increased ten times. I lost the opportunity.
→ I missed the boat.
Activity VI – Phrasal Verbs
1. Fill in the blanks in the passage:
Irfan was brought up in a village in Bihar.
At a very small age, he entered into the stock trading business and
made up for his father’s losses in the stock market.
Later, Irfan set up his own portfolio management firm.
2. Fill in the blanks using the correct phrasal verbs:
Word Bank:
pass away, do without, look forward to, call off, make up, carry away, break out, run out, put up with, keep up
- Don’t smoke in the forest. Fires break out easily at this time of year.
- I look forward to seeing my friends again.
- I’m afraid we have run out of apple juice. Will orange juice do?
- Your website has helped me a lot to keep up the good work.
- A friend of mine has called off her wedding.
- His mother can’t put up with his terrible behaviour anymore.
- As an excuse for being late, she made up a whole story.
- I got carried away by his enthusiasm.
- I just cannot do without my mobile. I always keep it with me.
- She was very sad because her father passed away last week.
Activity VII – Loan Words
Complete the table below using the dictionary or textbook glossary:
| Loan Word | Pronunciation | Word of Origin | Meaning | Language of Origin |
| Biscuit | /ˈbɪskɪt/ | Bescuit | Twice baked bread | French |
| Etiquette | /ˈetɪkɛt/ | Etiquette | Social rules/behaviour | French |
| Rickshaw | /ˈrɪkʃɔː/ | Jinrikisha | Hand-drawn cart | Japanese |
| Mentor | /ˈmɛntɔː/ | Mentor | Guide or advisor | Greek |
| Portfolio | /pɔːtˈfəʊliəʊ/ | Portafoglio | Collection of work/holdings | Italian |
| Traffic | /ˈtræfɪk/ | Trafic | Movement of vehicles | Old French |
| Entrepreneur | /ˌɒntrəprəˈnɜː/ | Entreprendre | Business starter | French |
Activity VIII – Let’s Edit
1. Rewrite Arjun’s e-mail with necessary corrections
Corrected E-mail:
To: career.counsellor@email.com
Subject: Guidance for Higher Education
Dear Sir,
My name is Arjun. I am a Plus Two student in a reputed school in Thrissur. I am in the Commerce stream, with Mathematics and Computer Science as my optional subjects. I secured A grades in all subjects in the Plus One exam, and I am expecting to score the same or better in the Plus Two exam.
I am writing this mail because I can’t decide which course to choose for my higher education. I am good at computers and I like Statistics. I also like English and read a lot.
Could you please guide me on what kind of career would suit me, and which course I should choose for my graduation? Kindly reply at the earliest, as I am really anxious about my future.
Yours sincerely,
Arjun
2. Punctuate and rewrite the conversation between Arjun and Robin
Corrected Conversation:
Arjun: Hello Robin.
Robin: Hi Arjun! What’s up?
Arjun: Nothing much, buddy. I’m a bit confused these days.
Robin: Confused? Why? What’s the matter?
Arjun: You know that I’m completing my Plus Two this year. So, I’m confused about what to do next.
Robin: Oh, I understand. So have you come to some conclusions?
Arjun: Not yet. I’m not much aware of the different courses and careers suitable for me.
Robin: Oh really? Then why don’t you seek advice from some career counsellors? They could give you suggestions based on aptitude tests.
Arjun: Yeah, I’ve already sent an email to a counsellor. Hope he will reply soon.
Robin: That’s good. Even I joined this course after some counselling sessions.
Arjun: Oh, is it so? Then I think I did the right thing. Okay Robin, bye then.
Robin: Bye Arjun. See you, and let me know your decision.
Arjun: Okay, see you.