A.Why is ABG big in my life?

Aditya Birla Group, started in 1857 under the vision of Seth Shiv Narayan Birla, has become an integral part of the daily lives of millions of India. The vast array of products and services offered by ABG ensures that every Indian and even vast numbers of people around the globe have been positively impacted. I, too, have since my childhood also interacted with the various offerings that ABG has to offer.

First thing that comes to my mind when I think about ABG is their fashion brands. Whenever I needed to dress up, Van Heusen and Peter England were the brands I thought of. They had an impressive collection not only in their stores in Delhi but also in small cities such as my hometown, Hisar. Also, Allen Solly and Louis Phillipe were to my rescue whenever I needed formal clothes for my internship or my MBA interviews. Shopping for clothes further becomes easy when all of these brands can be found under one roof in either Planet Fashion or Pantaloons. I fondly remember my family going into these stores when we visited Delhi and we finished our entire clothes shopping in no time.

There is another use of an ABG product which is close to my heart. My father is currently building a new house for my family and when he inquired about the best quality product, he was recommended Unitech Cement. An ABG product is literally building a home for my family to live in. Lastly, I hope that ABG continues to thrive and makes products that not only touch every Indian’s life but also help transform them in a positive way.

B.How I overcame challenges to achieve my ambitions in life?

I believe that challenges in life are bound to come and it is how we deal with them that showcases our personality. If we consider them to be a hindrance then we would not learn anything from them. A mature person likes to see challenges as an opportunity in disguise which can help you grow and learn more about yourself and the world.

I will like to share an anecdote of my life when I faced a challenge, overcame it and learned tremendously from it. During my third year in IIT Madras, I failed a course. It was the first time in my life that I had failed in the academic domain. Moreover, my selection In the semester exchange program in Japan was contingent upon whether I pass this course in the supplementary exam. I was highly disappointed in my myself and I pledged that I will correct this mistake. I took it up as a challenge and decided to put my entire effort on it. I studied with complete devotion and even canceled my vacation plans. I solved the entire course textbook and even bothered my friends till late night to help solve my queries on this course. It all bore fruit as not only did I pass this course but I also scored perfect marks in the exam. I think overcoming this challenge was important to me because it gave me back the self-confidence which I believe I had lost in the hyper-competitive world of IIT Madras. It also reaffirmed the belief that I can do whatever I set my mind upon.

Pranjal Dua

Aditya Birla Group The Face of Modern India- Pranjal Dua, Faculty of Management Studies- University of Delhi