Aditya Birla Group and Me
In a world full of brands backed by corporates, only one group in India is omnipresent. The Aditya Birla Group of the Birla family has been a part of lives of many Indians. My interaction with the group started with my father’s mobile phone. Little did I know at that time, that the SIM was of Idea Cellular, which he holds till date. Time passed and I passed high school with a dream to join the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani but I missed to clear the cut-off with a couple of marks. As I grew into a professional, I remember looking for a formal suit for my placements and once again, the group came to my rescue with Louis Philippe. The fabric quality and comfort is unmatched. I had some knowledge of the brand but after joining the MBA curriculum, I had a project on the group. It was that moment when I realised about the impact that the group has on the Indian society in the background. From Hindalco to Grasim Cements (now combined with Ultratech), the group has built this nation with a sense of belongingness. The management of the company ensures that quality and trust is far more important than the bottom-line profits. To me, ABG is not just a group, but a vision for building this nation and this world into a better place.
My Life Story - How I faced challenges and succeeded...
Only they win, who try!
My life, like everyone’s has been a roller coaster of positive and negative vicissitudes. From a young age, I had a dream to become a fighter pilot. During my high school, I got an opportunity to write the National Defence Academy Examination. I cleared it in first attempt. Following it was the SSB which is considered the toughest personality test in the world. I fought through all hardships and cleared that too in first attempt and also the PABT (test for pilots by the Indian Air Force). But the medical examination declared me unfit for being a pilot. I accepted my fate and decided to channel my skills into engineering. There was a lot of pressure from my parents to take up B.Com as my graduate degree as my brother and cousins were all commerce graduates. It took some effort but eventually, I convinced them and took admission at UIET, Panjab University. I broadened my horizon by working on technical projects such as designing a wireless control switch. I joined UIET's Brand Promotion Committee and acknowledging my hard work, I was soon promoted to the post of convener of the committee and led a team of 45 members during my tenure. I brought about changes to not just report the PR activities but also organise and take initiatives to build the brand of my institute. The work required most of my time coming back late at night from the college became normal. It was hard to strike the work-life balance but my family and friends supported me. When I see the fruits of my efforts after these years, it gives me a sense of satisfaction. Up till my final year, I was well targeted on pursuing an MBA to further gain necessary knowledge and skills in the field of management. In order to get a better grasp on these subjects, I interacted with a faculty member at the local MBA institute, University Business School, Panjab University, who guided me with the basics of management subjects. I waited for my CAT results and was admitted to the premium league of institutes, the IIMs. My peers and family had concerns about taking admission in a third generation IIM. But I fought through all doubts to pursue my decision. IIM Bodh Gaya was a budding institute then, but has grown into an institute worthy of the IIM Tag. Here I faced the cultural exposure. The batch was evenly distributed among all states in India. I worked on my social skills and made friends with all my batch mates. Until now, my story has been a short one but I will face all the challenges that I get and try, try till I succeed.
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