Part A
The first time, at least in my conscious memory, I remember using any product of the Aditya Birla Groups was the Hindalco Freshwrap Aluminium foil. My mother used to pack my lunch wrapped in the foil and at school, we would roll up the foil to make a ball and play with it. Back then I was entirely unfamiliar with Aditya Birla Group. As I grew older, I began noticing the company's presence all around me. The first brand associated with the Aditya Birla Group that I learnt of was Ultratech Cement as the company's name was explicitly mentioned in the cement advertisements. It was even later, when I visited Mumbai for the first time in 2016, that I learned that Ultratech cement was used in the construction of the much talked about Bandra-Worli Sea Link. Idea Cellular Limited (now Vodafone Idea Limited) was the first brand that I first used consciously knowing of its association with the company. But, it is the fashion brands of Aditya Birla Group that I have been a customer of most frequently. Pantaloons has always been my go to apparel retailer because of its large selections and great quality. A branch of Pantaloons opening very near my house also helped. Van Heusen, Louise Phillipe and Peter England are my preferred brands for formal wear. I have been to the newly Forever 21 outlet opened in Guwahati. More supermakets in Hyderabad were very helpful when I was hospitalised in the city for getting a lot of my daily needs.
Part B
They say, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Well, sometimes it gives you cancer. I was diagnosed with stage 2 Burkitt's Lymphoma in November, 2016. I had to undergo a very stringent chemotherapy regimen for a period of six months when I would essentially remain an invalid, confined to a hospital bed for most of the period. This also happened to be the final year of the graduation. I am an Electronics and Telecommunication engineer from Assam Engineering College, Guwahati. One of the most important events for an engineering graduate, campus placements, could not be availed by me as I had to undergo the treatment and it was not possible in my home town of Guwahati, Assam. Under the care of Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai and Basavatarakam Indo- American Cancer Hospital, Hyderabad, I was finally cured in April, 2017. I missed by chance to graduate with my peers, but I managed to survive. The thoughts of having to repeat a year and being unable to get placed naturally made me very depressed. I struggled to get back to my routine, being away from my books and studies for six months. But, with much determination, I managed to work through the papers of my final year and complete by bachelor's degree. The period after that was mostly dominated by a lack of motivation and a lack of energy, both mental and physical. It took me a lot of support from my family and friends and even more determination and will on my part to break free of the stagnation that was setting in my life. I worked hard and today I am a student of IIM Bodh Gaya, one of the best colleges in the country.
#IIMBG#ABGLP