The Shadow of Life: Aditya Birla Group - IIM KASHIPUR

Part A: Why Aditya Birla Group is big in your Life?

One fine day, when I was reading newspaper, I read a news about India's longest sea bridge that has been constructed in Mumbai, the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. I got mesmerized by imagining myself driving on the road and made it a point if I ever visit Mumbai, I would definitely cross through that beautiful freeway.

Two years back, for the first time when I happen to visit Mumbai, I had rented a self-drive car. Early morning of my second day in Mumbai, I went for a drive to the sea link. Minimal traffic at that time of the day, I reached the entrance, bought two-way toll pass, rolled down the windows, 'country roads' playing on the full volume of my car speaker, it invoked the traveller in me. The breeze so pleasant, the view so serene, the road so smooth, I was thinking that the sea-link is indeed a masterpiece.

The Bandra-Worli sea link is a testimony to the contribution of Aditya Birla Group(ABG) in making India beautiful and connected. Time and again, there have been several experiences of how ABG has been constantly involved in our life routines, most of the times, unnoticed and unappreciated.

For example, Pantaloons has been my ultimate shopping destination since I started buying apparels myself. I always look forward for a visit to Pantaloons store. The latest brands and styles have always exceeded my expectations, and I have always come out with more shopping bags than I had planned to before entering. It's such a hassle-free experience inside that it never disappoints. But only lately, I came to know that Pantaloons is an ABG brand itself. Infact, some of my favourite brands like Van Heusen, Louis Philippe, Allen Solly and many more are all part of this great Indian conglomerate.

On researching further, I realized that Aditya Birla Group has been everywhere in my life. I have received Ralph Lauren pen as gifts, packed my food in Freshwrapp, used Vodafone-Idea as my primary network for my smartphone, and even the wallet I keep my money in is from Ted Baker, all ABG brands. This is how big ABG has been in my life which I never knew about earlier. Like a shadow, ABG is always there in our life sometimes visible, other times not, but always with us. So, I want to thank ABG for creating value in our lives and making it much easier, smarter and connected. I wish one day Aditya Birla Group becomes the largest conglomerate in the world and touches the life of every Homo Sapien on the planet.

Part B: How I overcame challenges to achieve my ambitions in life so far.

One of the toughest challenge I overcame was my problem of lisping. Lisping is a speech defect due to which one cannot pronounce certain letters of language. I used to lisp since childhood. My family and I always knew about this. Although they were bothered about it, but unintentionally they couldn't help me out with it.

Early school was fine but the problem escalated majorly during late schooling years where I faced extensive ridicule. By the 10th grade, it had impacted my confidence completely and I had “withdrawn into my shell” with very few friends. My parents too became increasingly aware but were constrained due to the absence of speech therapists in our less developed city. 

The tipping point was a situation when one day, my teacher asked me to read a paragraph and the entire class burst into laughter. That day, I decided that this needs to change. With the help of my parents, I learnt the correct technique of pronouncing those letters I was unable to pronounce. I made it my decisive mantra and practiced it every available moment. The tables turned quickly in three months: I overcame the problem completely and even read news on stage in the morning assembly at school. A month later I began leading as the House captain. My confident started growing and I was feeling great about myself again.

I think that challenge instilled in me the traits of self-determination, courage and made me realise that one should always believe in itself and should never give up.