Aditya Birla Group has a presence across various sectors and industries. It has been the torchbearer of numerous initiatives centred around community service and sustainability. The beauty of its outreach lies in the fact that many of the products of the Aditya Birla Group have seamlessly integrated in the lives of a common man. From the Freshwrapp that keeps our food warm to the range of apparels we can pick and choose, the UltraTech cement used for Nation building to the “Idea that changed our lives”, ABG has truly been the Indian Conglomerate that unites the Nation in so many ways. One of the fascinating applications of the UltraTech Cement is in the field of the Oil and Gas Industry. The UltraTech Cement is used by many oil companies for oil well cementing. From oil exploration done on the offshore rigs of Bombay High to the ones done in various parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh; the UltraTech Cement helps in meeting India’s oil demand. ABG is also the market leader in Chlor Alkali Chemicals in India. These chemicals are used in various industries like Textiles, Pulp, Dyes, Pharmaceuticals, Oil Industry etc. The Aditya Birla Group is big in my life as it has enabled me to stay connected with my family and friends in India and abroad with the help of the cellular services of Vodafone-Idea. Coming from a small city in Haryana, it has given me the freedom to pick and choose apparels from the best of the brands at a one stop destination, unlike what is available in local markets. Aditya Birla Group touches the lives of lakhs of Indians and I’m glad that I’m one of them.
As kids, we are protected and nurtured by our family. Our parents often sacrifice their own comfort to make our lives easier. But when we grow up, reality hits us. It makes us aware of the blood and sweat it takes to survive in such a competitive world. Many of us, the 90’s kids have witnessed the first round of competitiveness just after clearing our 12th Class exams. The rat race begins when people decide on which colleges to apply to, which specializations to pursue (read: engineering) and which neighbourhood aunty to dodge who would intentionally compare you to her to-be IITian whiz kid - the star of the neighbourhood. And as you may have figured, I wasn’t one of those super brainy kids, nor do I have any hard feelings against them. But, as a teenager, I was deeply enraged by the societal pressure to fit in the conventional template of life. The pressure to stand out and join an elite educational institution was so high that many of us would question our self-worth, our own calibre. When my friends were joining “conventional” engineering streams, I chose to pursue a more unconventional field of engineering, which is: Petroleum Engineering. Many people ridiculed my decision, many questioned if I would get a job in such a male dominated industry and the neighbourhood aunties definitely didn’t approve. But what helped me keep going was my family. They stood by my side and supported me. And I’m glad I took the road less taken. It gave me the opportunity to witness the industry up close, to be on an oilfield standing shoulder to shoulder with my male colleagues and most importantly, it gave me the strength to question the status quo.