“Our values provide us with our roots, and they provide us with our wings.” -Mr. Kumar Mangalam BirlaIn this vast, complex and jumbled up world, very few institutions manage to make an impact on our lives the way the Aditya Birla group has done. Being an Indian multi-national conglomerate, operating in 34 countries and spanning across a wide array of businesses like metal, textiles, carbon black, telecom and cement, Aditya Birla group has upheld the integrity and respect of India and Indians for the last 150 years. From setting up of one of India’s first international operations post-independence, to the expansion into multiple industries and becoming world leaders in them, Mr. Aditya Vikram Birla and Mr.Kumar Mangalam Birla have become inspirations and ideals for budding entrepreneurs and business students like us throughout the country. AB Group has shaped the lives of millions of Indians, including me, in ways unfathomable. We are all indirect beneficiaries of Ultratech cement, which has steadily shaped India’s infrastructure and its dream houses for decades. Similarly, many citizens like me have been using Vodafone Idea Cellular Network for years owing to its legacy and seamless service. On a further personal level, products like Grasim suiting and shirts, Allen Solly, Louis Philippe and Van Heusen have been my choice of clothing. As a matter of fact, Peter England has been our family clothing brand for the last15 years. Very few people know that AB Group is also a leader in insulators market, which has lightened up the homes and aspirations of crores of Indians through efficient transfer of electricity. If I look from a macroscopic level, AB Group has been my friend philosopher guide for my entire life; from the fashionable clothing I need for my various youthful adventures, to the seamless internet and connectivity I use for socializing, reaching out to people and also education. However, in my opinion, the most impactful role that AB Group has played in my life is through the visionary leader Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla. I hail from a traditional Hindu Bengali family where business is viewed as extremely risky and often discouraged. But like any other millennial child, I chose to be the anomaly in the family. From a very early age, the idea of business, of creating value, of influencing lives while at the same time making money fascinated me. The more I read about Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla, the more I got inspired. With deep regret I declare that I was born with a disability which hindered my normal social involvement. I had to work hard to succeed and become noticeable. It is not possible for everyone to be capable of everything, but it is essential to be the best in what one is capable of. This thought always drove me to try harder in my fortes and succeed, be it academics, or painting, or other activities. It was never easy, and time and time again, I had to face obstructions, difficulties and challenges. But it was my passion to succeed, or more correctly, to not to fail, which drove me harder. All of these values I had gained when I went through the life of Mr.Birla, about how he overcame difficulties at the age of 28 and took the responsibility, and how he strived to grow the conglomerate with deep focus on each and every business with a single goal to be the best in all of them. Business and life are not very much different as people like to think. AB Group has been an integral part of my life, and of many others, and we wish it remains a part of our future generations’ lives for many years to come. As Mr. Birla has said, “The golden is to follow your passion and do something that is close to your heart.” I strive to be a contributor to the welfare of society, to value and job creation, and to make a life long bond with my peers and customers. These values reverberated by the Aditya Birla Group is what makes it BIG IN EVERYONE’S LIVES.