The winds of change
Right in the middle of the beautiful and unplumbed state of Chhattisgarh lies a city called Bilaspur. The city, which happens to be the birthplace of the author, is vibrant- with active communities and robust gatherings- and yet, calm and quiet. The marketplaces are crowded at definite hours and the nights are quiet, with the exception of some enthusiastic bikers. While the heart of the city hasn’t quite changed in the past twenty years, its skin has. Commercial centres have sprung up across the city and spending habits have changed, entertainment has changed. All this brings me back to the day when the first mall opened here, in the year 2011. With a select few shops and eateries back then, it became the talk of the town. One of the first few stores to open here was Pantaloons- the ultimate stop shop for all things clothing. I remember how it completely changed the idea of shopping for so many people. Now you wouldn’t have to go around hundreds of shops in Gol Bazaar to get the latest trends. You had to go to one place. The sheer excitement and an absurd sense of empowerment that people felt with this establishment- this new way of doing things- gave the city a new life. To realise potential in a city when others didn’t, to be the pioneers of a commercial upsurge in a tier 3 city, my city, was a contribution of the Aditya Birla Group that stayed with me. In the years to come we would see a number of stores and commercial centres spring up but we all know who gave us the first glimpse into this change that has manifested itself firmly today. I went on to pursue my graduation in Mumbai where again I crossed paths with an ABG product- the Idea Network (now Vodafone Idea). In my many endeavors, ABG has been on the side, in the form of one or the other product.
