Why Aditya Birla Group is big in my life?
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit. Aristotle.” Since starting as a cotton trader in the 1860’s in Pilani, Rajasthan to becoming one of the world’s biggest conglomerate in the 21st century, Aditya Birla Group has excelled in every field they have stepped in and have made it their habit. Aditya Birla Group’s presence can be witnessed in more than 35 countries, which is something to be proud of as an Indian. I can see Aditya Birla Group all around me. From the biggest lifestyle chain to the 3rd largest NBFC in India, Aditya Birla group has a strong hold in various sectors. I think it’s not only a big part of my life but of many people’s life all over the world. I have been using many of products and services offered by Aditya Birla Group. I will like to mention some of them.
My father has always taught me how important is it to dress properly, especially when you are going to be a professional. Aditya Birla Group did a pioneering work in bringing the world’s best lifestyle brands, from the likes of Louis Philippe, Van Heusen, Allen Solly and many more, to India and ensured we get the best of the world. It is a matter of pride to have the largest fashion and lifestyle chain in India. Selling 2 garments every second says how well connected the group is to its customers. The products are not only of the best quality but also at par with the fashion trends. Fashion is a language at present and through these brands Aditya Birla Group makes it a child’s play for me to master it.
My family has a deep faith in this group and have invested in its Mutual Funds. With a stable growth it ensures that my father’s life saving is safe and invested in the right place. Not only that, the Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance is also a part of my family as it protects and covers my family from future uncertainties. Also, the Aditya Birla Finance Limited plays an important role in economy by providing loans and advances to the MSME, which is very important for the growth of a nation. In this era where there has been a 30% reduction in the loan amount given by the Non Banking Financial Companies(NBFC), companies like Aditya Birla Finance Limited ensures that the MSME sector does not suffer and that is why it has been given AAA rating by both ICRA and India Ratings, which is very impressive and shows the trust people have in this group.
The most impressive thing about them is the Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development which believes in making a difference for the society and setting a benchmark for other companies. The work they have done for the society is phenomenal. All of the CSR activities aimed at the education, health and well being of people below the poverty line or of economically weaker section is truly remarkable. By collaborating with Government, district authorities, village panchayats and the people themselves, various companies, like Hindalco, Ultra Tech and Grasim, belonging to the group ensures that the 500 crores+ amount invested in the CSR activities are properly utilized. Touching life of 7.5 million people annually and putting a smile on their face is something that makes me proud for letting Aditya Birla Group be a part of my life.
How I overcame challenges in my life?
“You should never view your challenges as a disadvantage. Instead, it’s important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages.”- Michelle Obama
Life is a challenge in itself, even before taking birth the challenge is to be the one among the millions who gets the chance to live this beautiful life. If there is no challenge in your life, what good is it? How will you become the best version of yourself? What things will make you feel proud when you look back at your life? All these challenges in life bring something valuable with them, so embrace them and make your life exciting. I am lucky realize all this so early in my life.
My ambition in life has always been playing the best game in the world, FOOTBALL. Playing football is the best feeling in the world for me. I have been playing football since I was 10 years old, that’s all I can remember. Every time I play football the excitement, enjoyment and adrenaline rushing through every vein in my body gives me the chills that make me forget the whole world. On the field it is just me and the game. But as someone said,” with great ambitions come great challenges.”, my challenge was the very position which I play. I play as a goalkeeper, the last line of defense, the person who has to guard a 24 ft wide goal post which is having a height of 8ft. I won the 1st challenge of my life by taking birth but I think it annoyed the height gene due to which I felt short of 120 cm for achieving the 190cm mark, the ideal height of a goalkeeper. This was more of an issue for other people than me. People could not digest the fact that a 5 ft 6 inch (even less when I was younger) heighted person can be a goalkeeper and this affected me a lot. This was the biggest challenge for me, to prove to everyone, and more important to myself, that I can be what I want to be.
The most difficult part was to prove to myself that I can be a goalkeeper and it took me a lot of time to do this. I got my first professional goalkeeper experience in my 5th standard after I joined a summer football camp, organized by HAL Lucknow. There I met the first person who supported me and encouraged me to play as a goalkeeper and that person was my coach, Mr. S.K Sharma. Though the camp was organized only for a period of 45 days, I learned a lot from there. All the basics and techniques I learned made me more confident. I went to that camp continuously for the next 5 years, after which HAL stopped organizing it. In those 6 years I faced a lot of challenges but those 6 years are very valuable for me there. There was competition from people who were elder than me, the team didn’t trust me in the beginning and even I was not completely confident. But my coach always told me that mt height was an advantage as it made me the most active goalkeeper in the camp and this motivated me very much and I kept my head high and practiced hard every day. The camp trained me very well, I literally faced 300 shots (30 people x 10 shots each) and sometimes even more every day. There were many failures also, I lost matches, didn’t perform well and was many times not the preferred one but with every year at the camp my network increased and so did my confidence, which was a step ahead in conquering my challenge. Eventually I became the goalkeeper of a local football club and hence I got chances to play throughout the year. Later I became the goalkeeper of my school football team and college football team, which was a big challenge but due the self-confidence I made it through. Many times, people used to laugh and giggle after seeing me at the goal post at the beginning of the matches but I ensured that I had the last laugh by denying their best shots. Now everywhere I go to play, I enjoy it when I see player’s laughing face turning into surprised ones.
All the challenges I faced during my journey made me a better version of myself than I was before and the progress is still on. To summarize the challenges is way too easy compared to the effort and determination it takes to overcome them. But it paid off. I would not have been even half of the confident I am right now if I didn’t overcome those obstacles. At last I will quote a legend of football, Pelé – “The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning.”
#ABGLP #ABGWOOME #XIMB
