Aditya Birla Group, a name synonymous with national pride and global domination, has been one of the most vital cogs in the wheel of India Inc, even before India could gain independence. The fact that ABG’s inception dates back to 1857, the year India fought its first battle for independence, speaks volumes about the kind of wisdom, entrepreneurial history and legacy this group carries with itself. I for one, have been fortunate to have had the luxury of growing up in an economically and politically strong India; and one of the chief contributors towards this selfless nation building are organisations like ABG.
Having worked as a civil engineer, it won’t be wrong to say that ABG is the undisputed leader when it comes to the cement industry. While working, I discovered that no matter what the project was and who the contractors were,
UltraTech Cement was a perpetual entity I always found around me at my workplace. Talking about textiles,
Grasim Industries, owned and operated by ABG, was founded in 1948, at a time when employment was a major concern in the country. The presence of a job creating industry was nothing more than a blessing to the nation, and Aditya Birla Group proved why it was regarded as a nation builder. Grasim suits were one of the most prominent advertisers on the television while I was growing up, and it won't be wrong to say that aside from fascinating me with the world of professional suits, they carved a niche for themselves in the television advertisement industry, impacting mine and millions of other lives.
I have grown up with the fashion industry at the helm of its popularity, and Aditya Birla Group’s presence here has been omnipresent. Be it the likes of
Van Heusen, whose suits working professionals swear by today, or the famed
Allen Solly,
Peter England and
Louis Philippe, these are all brands whose products my father wore smartly to work every day, and now being an MBA student myself, these are nothing less than a holy relic to me. The fashion industry in India has bloomed with the blessings of ABG, and has risen up to its zenith, much like the name ‘Aditya’ denotes. It is but fair to say that ABG has touched millions of lives in this country in one form or the other, and most of us citizens are either dependent on their products and services on a daily basis, or are avid consumers of the same.
MY JOURNEY SO FAR:
I was sent to a boarding school at the tender age of 6 upon my request. Boarding life for me was this dream land, that required parents to buy us a big tin of tuck and send us off with it. Imagine the glee of a 6-year-old with a sweet tooth and no incisors. Upon arrival, the matron took my tuck tin and locked it up saying I could access it only during tea time. I had a hard time coping up with their strict routines and impositions. It was a difficult few months but I slowly overcame the shock. That was when I first discovered the strength of my will power. Once I came of age and had a career choice to make, I gravitated mostly towards Civil Engineering as it required me to be creative and I was ecstatic imagining my creations come to life. I pursued it and discovered that all the fun parts were taken the architects. During campus recruitment, I got recruited as a BDA by
BYJUs. That was when I got exposed to the world of sales and marketing and discovered that I had a natural flair for it. Though I was performing well, I couldn’t help but wonder that my engineering knowledge was not in use; so I moved to a field where my technical knowledge and my soft skills both converged. While at it, I also cracked an exam to land myself a role as a Junior Engineer in the Govt. of Sikkim. I was now at a juncture where I had to make the hard choice between continuing with the government job I had bagged, or to take a different course where my real interests lay. I decided to not settle for a safe option. And here I am, pursuing my MBA education at an illustrious institute. I won’t say that I have achieved all my ambitions in life, but I am certainly headed in the right direction. Ultimately, life is all about the choices we make, and I am proud to have worked hard to face and champion adversity and uncertainty like a challenge.