Growing up in a tinsel town in Odisha, I had always secretly followed the mantra of ‘Zindagi badi honi chahiye, lambi nahi!’ I had always been inquisitive to know how big corporations are built and what values drive them to succeed every single day. Thus, my inherent curiosity has always made me wonder about the glorious history of one of the largest Indian conglomerates, the Aditya Birla Group. Laid by Seth Shiv Narayan Birla, the Aditya Birla Group has not only flourished to a legacy of its own but has also created a benchmark for other Indian conglomerates. Having been around for more than 150 years, ABG has a history of creating a huge diversity of ecosystems and spreading its wings all over the world. But, how do we attribute its success and longevity to stay strong through the tough times of the economy? Well for me, the differentiator that sets ABG apart from its contemporaries and that has made ABG what it is today is its resilience and unparalleled investment in the society and its people. ABG has always focused on its commitment towards corporate governance, bridging impossible distances and making the world a cleaner and a safer place.
Thus,
ABG for me, is not only BIG IN ITS IDEAS, but also BIG IN ITS VALUES. My admiration for Aditya Birla Group goes way back to my engineering days when I had the opportunity to visit the smelting plant of Hindalco Industries Limited in Hirakud, Odisha. I was awed not only by the grandness of the world’s largest custom smelter but also by the large number of women workforce in the plant. Interacting with a few of the industry veterans only confirmed ABG’s commitment towards gender inclusivity by providing platforms for growth and rewarding careers in both manufacturing and services field. They also stated that post the group’s diversification beyond manufacturing, large number of women executives were entrusted with more strategic roles to prove their mettle in the corporate world. This is indeed in line with Sarala Birla’s exemplary values of marching ahead of the times. Thus, ABG has not only constantly challenged the societal stigmas but has also empowered millions of women and given them opportunities to grow and succeed.
The challenges that made me who I am
You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have – Heard this quote quite often, Eh?
Well, I was exactly in the same situation in early 2019 when my world broke apart after I learnt of my mother’s diagnosis of a rare form of blood cancer. Nothing in the world is more painful for a daughter to see her mother helpless, weak and suffering and I was no exception.
I was shattered and broken because here I was - a little bird, who didn’t even know to fly without her mother being around and then all of a sudden, she comes to know that her mother has been diagnosed with a rare Stage-II blood cancer. My mother had struggled her entire life by doing some odd private tuitions and selling woolen sweaters to manage our family expenses as my father lost his job in early 2000s and never got a stable and well-paying job after that. Post the diagnosis, my mother was inconsolable, not because she did not want to die at the age of 53, but because she had just started to live the life of her dreams. However, I somehow realized that I needed to act at the earliest. I immediately took her to the best Oncologist in Odisha but hardly did I know, he would turn out to be a big extortionist. Due to wrong medication and incorrect procedure of tests, my mother fell seriously ill and suddenly one day, she slipped into a hypovolemic shock, a critical condition which if not treated urgently would have turned fatal. I had already spent most of my savings in my mother’s treatment and was left with no money to take her to a good hospital. And this happened during the time I was going through my MBA interviews and also had to manage my hectic work schedule. But I never lost hope and somehow managed to take her to the best cancer hospital in India, Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai. I simultaneously prepared for the interviews during the long waiting hours at the hospital and managed to attend all the interview calls. Daunting as it may sound, but I was hell bent to bounce back and make a difference. Thus, I volunteered for Love Heals Cancer, a not-for-profit organization based out of Mumbai, to create more awareness about the disease and help cancer fighters and survivors in their journey.
I remember the oncologist in Bhubaneswar challenging me that I can only manage to do one of the two things – either take care of my mother or else fulfill my dreams of studying in a reputed B-School. But here I am, crafting down my short piece of struggle at my hostel room in Indian Institute of Management, Tiruchirappalli. And yes, my mother is my strongest pillar and she continues to fight cancer bravely.