It was the winter of 2014. The auditorium was full of people, and my heart was beating fast. The quizmaster had just delivered the tiebreaker question of the annual national quiz competition at Jadavpur University- “Which company has the tagline- Let's reach for the Sun”? Having no clue about the answer, my team lost to the question. Later I came to know that the answer was Aditya Birla Group.

While researching more about the company, I was mesmerized by the fact that ABG has touched the lives of millions of people, often in ways people don’t even realize. With its diverse range of products like cement, carbon black, apparels, metals and insulators, it is impossible that ABG has not contributed in some way in everyone’s life. The realization of this fact in my life suddenly popped up out of thin air when I realized that in my final year engineering project, I was researching on products made by the Aditya Birla Group. As a part of my final year project, I was researching the material properties of day to day Aluminium and Ceramics products, and I was spellbound to learn how innovation and advanced manufacturing practices in the companies like ABG have skyrocketed the capability of the products to serve their intended purpose.

Coming to fashion, pantaloons have always been my first choice when I plan to buy apparels that confirms to the latest fashion trends in the millennial society. It is indeed a powerhouse of fashion and innovation housing over 20 brands under a single roof. The quality of apparels are amazing and the price is quite affordable.

In July 2018, I joined an NGO to work towards the socio-economic development of villages near bauxite mines in Lohardaga District. The initiative was going to change the lives of thousands of young villagers who would benefit by upgrading their skills in areas like mobile repairing, carpentry, steel fabricating, etc. The gust of ABG's responsibility towards the society touched me subtly when I came to know that HINDALCO CSR funded the initiative. I always knew that HINDALCO produced the freshwrap aluminium foils that mothers use to wrap their love, but I never knew that it was also helping the sons of the villages serve back their mother by assisting them in developing their skills and getting jobs in the market.

Despite having quite diverse experiences, I have always been very anxious about my future. I had often found myself extrapolating my fears, sometimes imaginary, to worry what would happen in the future and as a result ruining my present. Following Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla’s philosophy to “live life as it comes” has helped me gain a lot of control over my nerves. Now I see my life as an hourglass wherein one grain of sand falls through the thin glass neck at a time. I have realized that each day is a new day and every day brings new opportunities and challenges. I need not fear my uncertain future because even the most genius of the human species have failed to predict any future event of their lives, even one day in advance with acceptable certainty. The best we can do is to enjoy today to the fullest and give the best that we can TODAY.

ABHISHEK KUMAR

HOW ADITYA BIRLA GROUP TOUCHED MY LIFE IN UNUSUAL WAYS