I believe "Limited Dreams" is a thing that most of us would relate to. It does not matter what class of society you belong to; our society has a way of putting barriers on our dreams or to be the least supportive, lets us follow another person’s footpath rather than creating our own.
This is story of a boy from a small town of Gaya, Bihar. The city famously known for "Pinddaan" according to which everyone once has to come there to give peace to their ancestors. Also, this small city has an international airport which is seasonal. It is operational during the festivities of Bodhgaya. A city where Buddhism originated. Just like these few lavish commodities in a small town, there lived this boy with few resources but big dreams. Dreams which didn't have a way to be fulfilled but a desire to be achieved.
This boy who has seen the world transform from the old school generation of 90's to this present high functioning generation. He has seen his below middle-class family work hard to reach a stable place in society to be known as middle class. Little did he know about the UltraTech cement which was being used to build his house, would have a larger role to play in his life.
He struggled with convincing his parents and that hint of smile was a proof of his success when he came to Ranchi for his Intermediate schooling. The outside world took him on a ride of its own. He had the choices; he could decide what to eat, what to wear, what to do with life. In this bitter-sweet journey of life, he found his happiness in clothes. Clothes that fit his pocket and fashionable enough to give him that confidence. Pantaloons was his one rescue destination. He always found the clothing line there to be very simple, classic as well as trendy at the same time.
Years passed with his Engineering in Ernakulam, Kerala with his one choice being constant. Pantaloons. Other options existed but that satisfaction of handpicked clothes at the store never matched any one of them. Four years passed by and the moment to make it or break it came with the placements. He decided to notch it up with Allen Solly formal wears for the interview. Fortunately, he got a job at Bengaluru. Things took a turn with his score of 97 percentile in CAT that year. It became a tough choice.
This is the part where limitations play their role. The limited knowledge of the small town around him told him "You are an engineer, placed, earning. This is good enough." He knew he wanted to do more. But there was no way out. His parents could not have supported him anyway. Neither with the understanding of the value for this higher education nor financially. So, he went on with his job. Making a pledge to self to return back strong on his own.
Two years into job and finally he cracked CAT again. This time with the deep pocket he had due to the job, he took it up a notch further. He was filled with pride and confidence in his Van Heusen clothing during his interview process for the prestigious IIM's and got admission to IIM Ranchi, only this time, he was free to make his choice. He had saved enough to pay for his initial education which later was to be taken up by loan. He made his parents understand that this is a way forward in life. Also, it gave him immense pleasure that the younger generation who were limited to graduation were seeking guidance for further studies ahead. This indeed was a change which he might have missed watching in society due to his own struggles.
He lands up in Ranchi, back to the city which started his journey to fulfill his dreams. And the first thing he does; goes back to Pantaloons.
Looking back, he realises how much Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited had been a part of his life.
