It was a sheer blessing to be born in a family with two older siblings who were ten and twelve years older (respectively) to me. Being the youngest one, I have always been protected and pampered by my family members, however, my father was an exception. My father was born in a poor family in Andhra Pradesh. My grandfather was a priest, a farmer and had seven children to take care of. Life was not easy, and the times were demanding. Those tumultuous times only made my father stronger; he started his career as a government teacher then went on to clear the RRB exam and moved all the way to Assam with a sheer determination turn things around for himself and his family. His journey has been inspirational for many, including me. He would keep me grounded enough just so that I could understand the difference between a luxury and a necessity. The long evening walks on the beach side in Visakhapatnam with my father bestowed strength during my ups and downs. His disciplined lifestyle, grit, perseverance and practical nature kept me grounded. I owe the transformation from an under-confident pampered child to a strong, confident, resolute person I am today, to my parents.
My parents had different perspectives about me, while my mother would consider me to be a naive child, my father would never fail to encourage me to push my limits, be honest to myself and most importantly to be presentable and ‘dress to win.’ Hailing from a family with an agricultural heritage, I have always understood the importance of good quality fabric. He and I had our difference of opinion with respect to getting clothes stitched versus buying ready-made clothing. He would always ask me to get them stitched and I found the clothes to be retro styled. We could never find a common ground until we came across the clothing range from Aditya Birla Group - From Peter England to Van Heusen, Allen Solley to People, formals, casuals, sportswear, from cotton to linens to select from, the designs were trendy, innovative, the fabric was up to my father’s expectation which had never ever happened to me in ready-made clothing store! From then onwards till today, pantaloons has become the shopping destination for all my clothing needs. My father is a now PE milestone program member and what moved him the most was when I told him about how aspirational it was to see how a company like PE is transforming the lives of one of the most oppressed sections of our country – the cotton farmer. Giving them the respect and livelihood, they deserve.
My father always stated that if you chase excellence and strived to progress each day you wouldn’t have to hunt for opportunities, rather they would come and kiss your feet. I am inspired by what the brands like Peter England, Van Heusen, Allen Solley, Linen Club have achieved over the years, the brands itself have become true ambassadors. On this journey of learning, unlearning, challenging and pushing myself to become a worthy IIFTian, I look forward to a luxury I relish in the form of branded clothing and Aditya Birla Group has definitely given me the chance to be everything I love.
It has been 10 days that I walked through the gates of one of the most prestigious institutions of this nation. It still feels like a dream as I sit amongst my peers and write this piece down about how the last 10 days have taken me to my extreme lows only to break all my mental blocks and stereotypes. I am learning to accept people as they are and see myself being included in their lives seamlessly. Hailing from the city of destiny, Vizag, my destiny chose to give me an opportunity to join one of the best B-Schools of India and I took it without a second thought. It’s the thoughts after you get admitted which baffle you, they churn your emotions, make you carry an overwhelming feeling as you ponder about the surprises ahead. There were a lot of questions on my mind, a lot of insecurity, fear, apprehensions about my peers, roommates, and seniors. The moment of truth arrived as I sat in the auditorium for the 2019-21 induction program to begin.
We were introduced to the legacy of this esteemed institution by our seniors and it was a much-needed reality check. We had signed up for not just graduating with a degree and finding ourselves a job, but we were going to be IIFTians for a lifetime and it was going to be rigorous, challenging and most importantly liberating. The journey had just begun, and we were hit with a tsunami of tasks which would help us gear up for the days to come. It was a sink or swim along moment. For a middle-class guy, a fresher straight out of college, it was going to be a hard time finding like-minded people around. That was my initial thought the night before. Once the induction started, we had sleepless nights, some incredibly challenging tasks which always required teamwork and stay mentally alert, to break silences and approach my new friends (family to be honest) and ask them for help. It was one of the most challenging times for me – physically, mentally and emotionally. I was nostalgic about the moments I spent with my parents, sisters, my pets and loved ones and here I was trying to fit into a batch of 170+ peers from all corners of the country. I was one amongst the top minds of the nation amidst seniors who have been proving their mettle all along.
This was the opportunity for which I have worked hard for so long and I would not let this go in vain. This was the time to make an impact, to overcome my fears, to set aside all inhibitions. The first week at IIFT, Delhi reiterates the fact that challenges, when taken seriously, are the best way to break all shackles. The feeling runs through your nerves when you shout “Go IIFT Go!” makes the journey worth every hardship faced. I have adapted myself to the IIFT culture and was able to visualize these five core values which will forever become my strengths – Integrity – my discipline and rigor towards work, Commitment – Taking responsibility, Passion - for both my academics and extracurricular activities, Seamlessness - My ability to strike a balance between work and life and Speed – to be a quick learner. These are the pillars on which the empires of success are built. With these qualities deeply ingrained in me, I was able to secure the Position of Responsibility as a Junior Executive Member (JEM) of the Media Committee of IIFT on my Day 9 in IIFT, Delhi. This journey has already helped me in realizing my core strengths so that I stand strong as an IIFTian.