The Birla Group of Companies was founded in 1857, coincidentally, in the same year when India’s Sepoy mutiny, the first revolt against the British started. It all started with Seth Shiv Narayan Birla’s venture into cotton trading. One can fathom the tumultuous times that shaped the Aditya Birla Group of today, a US $44.3 billion company, with a workforce of 120,000 from around 42 countries. The prestigious Indian conglomerate which had its humble beginnings in 1857, now has business in various sectors such as Finance, Chemicals, Metal, Cement, Textile, Fashion and Telecom. With over 45 brands under its wings, Aditya Birla group has reserved its place in the Fortune 500. The Birla group grew along with the nation, under the leadership of Mr. Ghanshyam Das Birla, Mr. Aditya Bikram Birla and is now headed by Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla. Though its contribution cannot be measured, it goes without saying that Aditya Birla was a boon to the Indian economy, at a time when it needed business leaders to forge the road ahead. Being a part of the young generation, I have connected with Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail. I was awestruck the day, I realised that brands like Allen Solly, Van Heusen, Louis Philippe and Peter England belonged to an Indian company and not to a foreign brand. During my stay in Bengaluru, I used to walk by a Louis Philippe store and was waiting for a reason to buy the suit that was on display. Having converted a place in Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, I proudly wear that suit which reflects my self-esteem. As an Indian, it is a matter of pride to have a company that has stood the test of time and delivered brands and values to challenge competitive markets, all over the world.
Life has not been a bed of roses, nor has it been a path of thorns. Being born and brought up in a middle class family, one gets to see the difficulties that life has to offer but is shielded by the love and care of parents. I am fortunate to have such a family that has taken care of all my needs and at the same time, ensured that I was ready to face the world on my own. The importance of education was imbibed in me since childhood, and I made it a point to give my best efforts in academics and other co-curricular activities. Being a diligent student, I made it a priority to make my parents proud. But I failed; at a point where it mattered the most. I failed to clear the entrance examinations for IITs and NITs, a dream that my parents shared with me. I would dwell on how the different the present situation would have been. With time and experience, I have realised that not every failure is the end of the road; you just have a walk a path that is different from the one you hoped for. Today I have secured a place in IIFT and my parents are happy to see me achieve my goal with hard work and dedication. I have to forge ahead and gear up for whatever challenges the future has to offer. As long as the destination is clear in my mind, the difficulties won’t be a hindrance.