The ABG Effect - Ankish Ajmani, NMIMS Mumbai

 

Part A: ‘Why Aditya Birla Group is big in your life’

‘Aditya Birla Group’ is one of those names which arguably every household in India is well aware of. No wonder it is one of the leading private sector conglomerates in India. The fact that it operates in 35 countries shows its international presence and dominance. The group has its presence in an array of industries namely chemicals, cement, telecom, finance, apparel and IT services. It is certain that every Indian has come across some product of ABG. This is the impact that ABG has made in the country and abroad. As Indians, we should be proud of the fact that Aditya Birla Group is number one in the world when it comes to aluminium rolling, viscose staple fibre and carbon black. Second in telecom, third in cement and fourth in insulators. These staggering statistics prove that ABG has come a long way since its inception in the 19^th century when Mr. Seth Shiv Narayan Birla started trading in cotton and laid the foundation for the group. The work that ABG has been doing for society is commendable. It works in 5000 villages, provides midday meals in 268 schools, operates 56 schools and goes the extra mile to give back to the society. This just shows the kind of values the group possess and its dedication towards doing its bit to make the society a better one. It is an arduous task to calculate the number of times I personally encounter some or the other product associated with the Aditya Birla Group. I have an Idea subscription which is an integral part of the group. I have a close connection with ABG in the apparels segment. I was surprised to find that some of my favourite brands like Van Heusen, Peter England, Allen Solly and Louis Philippe are actually a part of ABG. I frequent ‘Pantaloons’ often which is a leading fashion retail store of the country. ‘Freshwrapp’ aluminium foils which is a product of ABG’s Hindalco has been used in my home since childhood. The impact that ABG has had in my life is in a nutshell, immense. I would like to conclude by stating that the Aditya Birla Group is not just big in my life, but an integral part of my life.

Part B: ‘How you overcame challenges to achieve your ambitions in life so far’

 When I take a walk down memory lane, I find an introverted obese kid who was teased and bullied almost every day at school. A kid who was average at studies and below average at sports. He hardly had any friends and deemed every day a miserable one. This prolonged for a few years when came a point I realized that it was enough. I needed to change my life. In tenth grade, I talked to my parents about the things I was having troubles with and I wish I had had the courage to say those words a few years earlier. That was the day I decided I will no longer be a meek person and will work towards a better self. I joined a nearby gym to become healthier and fitter. Within a few months, I was in much better shape and that instilled confidence in me and made me feel much better about myself. My personality change rapidly and people started talking about the change they were seeing in me. I gained the confidence and courage to face anything and anyone and that has helped me in various spheres of life. Ever since, fitness has been a top priority in my life. Leaving my hometown and going to Chennai for my under graduation was a major decision. I had never lived out of my home and leaving my nest to go to another part of the country with a totally different culture was a big challenge then. I started reading self-help books and used to watch a lot of motivational videos on YouTube. I’d like to share one particular belief shared by someone. He said, “Life is like going the wrong way on a de-escalator. If you keep standing, you’ll keep going down. To survive, you need to keep moving.” These words got drilled into my mind and have been a core value of mine ever since.

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