Aditya Birla Group is a global conglomerate, with a presence in almost all sectors in the country. From supplying the carbon nanoparticles that go into making tyres, to cement that has lived up to its name of being the country’s number one, from the fabrication of top quality insulators to innovations in fluid fabric, ABG has had a presence in all the major sectors which have played a big role in our lives.
Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited have had a definite presence and impact on my life throughout. I have shopped for apparel at Pantaloons a greater number of times than I could ever keep a track of. Their collection of stylish and on-trend clothes, which are both beautiful and affordable have always been a factor that has drawn me to it. It has been my one-stop-shop for clothes for longer than I can remember. With Forever 21 stores popping up online and offline, I had a new avenue to purchase trendy and quirky clothes and accessories. It was only later that I came to know that the Indian license for the American fast-fashion brand was held by ABFRL. Even now when I recently had to go shopping for a set of formal suits, I didn’t realize that I had inadvertently ended up buying clothes from the same company- both Van Huesen and Allen Solly are brands owned by ABFRL. The sheer variety of brands they own, each targeting a particular subset of the consumer population effectively, is a testament to the power the company possesses.
While I wrote briefly only about the apparel segment, the true impact and link with Aditya Birla Group are immeasurable due to it being virtually omnipresent in all segments, sectors, and industries of the country.
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Being 21 and moving away from home for better opportunities and education was the life plan I had laid out for myself, however, envisioning something to happen in the future and living through the reality of it are two different concepts and experiences as I have come to realize over the past few weeks.
One cannot help but miss the luxury of mental peace and security they enjoy at home, the love and presence of friends and family, and the steadfast and constant nature of life in a familiar space with little to no deviations in daily life. Compared to such an idyllic setting, the hustle and bustle and perpetual activity one gets to experience in a B-school is akin to being transported from a small deserted town to the middle of CST, Mumbai at peak rush hour and being told to find your way back home. In short, an experience that would leave you absolutely baffled and bamboozled. Add to that the fact that this was the first time I would be leaving my home and moving base to another city, on another coast altogether, and this was bound to be a taxing adventure. At the start I couldn’t cope with all the changes in such a short duration of time and my health deteriorated to the point that I fell dreadfully sick by the end of only my first week.
However, there is no denying the fact that the past month has also been an amazing roller coaster ride. Taking part in all the fun competitions organized by the committees at college, getting to know a plethora of people from such varied backgrounds-be it educational or work qualifications, exploring a new city and a new environment, all the while learning something new every day in lectures, are just some of the highs I’ve had the privilege to experience in my short time here, and each experience has helped me come out of my cocoon and only made me happier and more content. Every activity I have taken part in has only helped put my mind at ease and made the transition process easier.
This is not to say that the difficulty of dealing with a multitude of activities together has ceased to exist- its only that with each passing day it becomes easier as one starts to find their footing. While the process of it may not have been enjoyable at the start, I can’t wait to see where the journey leads me and how it helps me grow in skills and as an individual. All I know is that I am going to come out of these 2 years changed for the better!