Part- A
A Journey like no other
The roots of the Aditya Birla Group go back to almost a century before independence and its role in India’s economic history is tied with the country’s quest for political freedom.
Today the Aditya Birla Group is a $40 billion corporation and many of the group firms are in the league of Fortune 500 companies. It has more than 120,000 employees from 42 countries and operates in 36 nations. ABG has established itself in non-ferrous metals, cement, textiles, chemicals, agri-business, carbon black, mining, wind power, insulators, telecommunications, financial services, retail and trading solutions.
Making a difference
ABG’s project Village Social Entrepreneurs in healthcare covers around 300,000 people at 100 locations in 4 states (Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh) and the company has been engaged in a major project with Vision Foundation of India to provide sight to 6,600 nearly blind people. Additionally, ABG carried out cataract surgeries for 5,000 people through our plant teams, in tandem with the Government.
At 56 schools across India, ABG provides quality education to 46,500 children. Merit Scholarships has been given to 32,000 children from the interiors. Over 28,000 children in the hinterland of India are have been taught conversational English to build their confidence.
ABG along with Habitat for Humanity so far has built more than 500 houses as part of community outreach Programme, besides supporting the building of an additional 3,800 houses across India.
ABG has transcended the conventional boundaries of business. Slowly and silently, along with the Government, Group is trying to change the face of villages. From abject poverty to meeting the necessities of life — from dependency to freedom — from backwardness to progress — in more ways than one.
Part-B
“To get what you never had, you ought to do what you never did.”
The above line has guided me in all walks of my life whether it be educational, professional or personal. It has always allowed me to push my limits in challenging times to come out with flying colours.
It gives me chance to introspect, rather finding the flaw in the situation I ponder what can be improved on my part. I have experienced that it is only in the toughest of the times when one discovers his/her true potential.
And I am grateful to all the failures that I have faced in the past. Failure teaches us new ways to succeed in life more than what we learn at school or college.
Someone had rightly said, “Failure doesn’t mean you are a failure; it just means you haven’t succeeded yet.” It is fine to be disappointed when failure strikes but one has to rise & roar and give another shot until one achieves the goal. So, persistence combined with hard work done smartly surely brings the results but one has to keep going on.
And at last, the purpose is to be happy, to be compassionate and be thankful to all those who have helped in any manner to come this far.
Rajat Gupta
Indian Institute of Management, Kashipur