Aditya Birla Group: A big part of our lives
What comes to your mind whenever you see the iconic logo of Aditya Birla Group or watch one of their advertisements on TV with their famous tagline ‘Taking India to the World’? You are immediately reminded of the huge brand presence and the trust that you put in each of their products – trust that was built over several years of value-oriented customer offerings, which made it the household name it is today. It is also a sense of pride for us that a home-grown company has become a huge multinational conglomerate, leaving its footprint around the world and which has established a legacy.
To simply say that people buy and use many branded products of Aditya Birla Group would be an understatement as it is much more than that. Many people would not even realize that ABG has touched their lives in small and big ways, from the road they are driving on to the house they are living in. Their impact on the people have spanned generations and will continue to do so, with their diverse product offerings. ABG has also vastly contributed to the development of post-independence India.
The same brand presence of ABG has been applicable in my life also. There is a distinguishable quality to branded clothing and it so happens that most of the shirts that I have bought are from Van Heusen and Peter England, two flagship brands of Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail. The business suit that I bought to appear for interviews and other formal occasions is from Van Heusen. Furthermore, I only buy apparels from physical retail shops and Pantaloons has been my preferred destination numerous times.
Coming to another everyday product, who can forget Hindalco Freshwrapp? It evokes a feeling of nostalgia as it reminds us of our school days and the bonding we used to have over tiffin breaks. Now, another sector where ABG made a huge impact is the telecom industry, with the inception of Idea Cellular. Now, with its merger with Vodafone, it has become India’s largest telecom operator and is actively competing with other heavyweights in the industry.
Finally, it would be very unfair on my part if I do not mention the influence of Aditya Birla Group on some of the things which we use extensively but take it for granted, for example roads. During my research for this article, I came to know that UltraTech Cement was used in the construction of the Bandra-Worli Sealink in Mumbai. I have travelled on this magnificent piece of engineering design numerous times, but I did not know about this detail. This is due to the fact that the common citizen thinks that roads, bridges and buildings are pretty normal things to have. They do not think about what goes into making them. Here also, the offerings of Aditya Birla Group in the construction sector play a pivotal role in establishing and showcasing the infrastructure of our nation.
Thus, it can be said undoubtedly that ABG has impacted our lives in some or the other way, regardless of where we live. And we should be proud of the fact that a company of Indian roots has become a well-respected global brand and we have been with them for this journey.
How I overcame challenges to achieve my ambitions?
There is a famous proverb that says “Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors”. Life is full of challenges and all of us need to face them some or the other time. The key is to face them head-on instead of backing out.
Similarly, one of the challenges that I had faced was during my 11
th and 12
th standard in school. I had decided long back that I would do engineering after 12
th. So once my 10
th boards got over, I enrolled in a coaching class to prepare for engineering entrance exams. This was of course in addition to my regular school, since integrated school plus coaching class programs were not very popular then as they are today. Also, I was in the ICSE board which is known for its rigorous curriculum. So it was important to keep pace with both my school studies and my coaching class.
I used to attend school from morning to afternoon and the coaching class from evening 6:30 PM to 9 PM. There was also quite a bit of travelling involved for this. So I was finding it difficult to make time for self-study in this hectic schedule. But self-study was necessary as there were regular tests at my school and classes. So I decided to cut some of my leisure time and started studying till late in the night. I also used to make good use of the weekends. As time went on, I learnt to manage my time and was able to establish a regular schedule for studying and leisure. I, along with some of my friends, also formed a motivated study group which made the learning process fruitful and enjoyable.
Two years passed and the all-important phase had arrived. All the efforts which I had put till now would be tested thoroughly. So I gave the major competitive exams; some went well and some were not as per expectation. I started comparing all my possible options while I was waiting for the results. I was overjoyed when I got to know that I was selected for admission in BITS Pilani – Goa Campus, that too in my preferred branch – Mechanical Engineering. Speaking of which, I would also like to mention the fact that the honourable chairman of Aditya Birla Group, Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla, is also the Chancellor of BITS Pilani.
So this was a brief story of how my efforts and determination during those important two years helped me get into a reputed engineering college. I faced a similar challenge during my CAT preparation also last year, having to perform well at my workplace while also studying for the MBA entrance exams, but maybe I should save the details of this story for another day. In this case also, my efforts paid off and I got admission in IIM Nagpur – one of the most prestigious B-schools in the country.
Finally, I would like to conclude this article with a famous quote – “Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful”.