In this era of feminism, when more and more women are breaking the shackles of patriarchal society and blurring the gap between the so-called roles defined for men and women. Being a bread-earner, leader, and protector – all these roles are slowly been equally shared by both men and women in a family. Undoubtedly, this is going to empower our society like never before but at the same time may leave us with a daunting question – Who is a real man in 21stCentuary?

Now let’s try to think how it felt when your father saved you from falling down the bicycle when you were naïve at it. How it felt when your sports coach taught you how to play the game right and defeat whatever might come in way of you and your goal. Think of how it might have felt to a motherless child watching his father struggling to cook him his favorite meal. Nothing can replace the love and power of such good men in our lives and my story of how “Aditya Birla Group” touched my life starts from where the group touched lives of such good men at my home and in my life.

From “Easy to wash shirts” to “Power dressing”, Aditya Birla Group fashion brand – Van Heusen – has been the most aggressive brand impacting the life of my dad, my brother and all my friends who have stood up with me and helped me become who I am. Aditya Birla Group was also the fashion sponsor for “The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (2017)”. This renowned ride works in partnership with the Movember Foundation, a group that raises money to support prostate cancer research and other issues related to men's health. All this has made Aditya Birla Group stand tall in my life and I cannot thank it anymore for making a valuable difference in the life of all men in my life.

The group has not just been revolutionary for men. Good men are not just the ones who do their work right, they are the ones who help others and their presence itself empowers people around them. Such is the aura of this group and its brands which I relish. I remember shopping for a formal blazer in the streets of Jalandhar. Being turned off by several shops with a common dialogue recurring – “Sorry Ma’am, we do not sell blazers in this hot month of June”. I had almost given in with my wish to buy a new blazer for myself before I joined IIM Ranchi for my MBA classes. With thoughts like “How embarrassing it would be to enter my first MBA class without a proper formal blazer” clouding my mind, my father reached out to my help. “Let’s try for it at Van Heusen”, suggested my father. I had little hopes left as I had tried out looking for the blazer at almost every other brand and showroom known for women clothing and fashion.

The Next day, I decided to give it a try and drove with my dad to Van Heusen. As soon as we entered, the lady staff reached out to me and asked how she can help. I pitched in the need for a formal blazer with a little hesitation, expecting another no. But to my surprise, the lady smiled listening to my requirement and asked me to come along. There it was, a perfect black blazer, just the kind of fit I wanted. Without a second thought, I had my purchase done.

Donning the blazer, I went on to work sleeplessly for the first twenty days of my joining IIM Ranchi, without the slightest discomfort. Managing everything (and winning a few) from lectures, presentations, assignments, role plays, video rounds, treasure hunts, I2B sessions, management challenges, committee selections, guest lectures and alumni meet, these few days have taught me a lot and I cannot imagine myself achieving all this without Aditya Birla Group. I feel, just like the way there is a blurring line between men and women, the same has been so beautifully captured by Aditya Birla Group and my blazer is a perfect example of the same. Empowering me in my MBA life and future career, Aditya Birla Group has taken the place of being an entity in my life whom I can look up to just the way I feel for all good men in my life – my dad, my brother, my friends, and the Aditya Birla Group. I hope you have got the answer to “Who is a real man in 21stCentuary?”

Mehak Mahajan

The New Man in My Life – “The Aditya Birla Group” | Mehak Mahajan, IIM Ranchi