Dreams do come true. Whether the dream is to build a home, start a business or get through a job interview, Aditya Birla Group has had a part to play in it. We might not see its name on billboards but its presence is all around us. It could be the cement that was used to build your dream house or the carbon used to make the tyres in your first car. It could also be the suit you wear to your biggest job interview or something as small as the aluminium foil which used to keep your school lunch warm and fresh. Whether knowingly or unknowingly we have all been privy to the benefits provided by Aditya Birla Group.
While it helps us mould a future, Aditya Birla Group also helps us to create memories that stay with us forever. One such memory that I have is of going shopping with my family during Durga Puja. Even though Durga Puja is mainly celebrated over four days, the actual festivities start several days prior when relatives get together and go shopping to buy new clothes for all the days of the upcoming festival. And during that time, there was no need to ask where we would go. Everyone knew the answer – Pantaloons, the one on Camac Street, a one-stop destination to meet all your fashion needs at affordable prices. It was a place where we and our parents could find the right kind of attire all in one place. My first few memories of being in a huge shopping complex are from Pantaloons, being awestruck and excited to explore the plethora of clothes and accessories. I have spent hours at the Pantaloons outlet trying on clothes from new fashion trends and trying to decide what to buy. Then I grew up and reached a stage where I was faced with my first job interview. Once again, I found myself at a Pantaloons store, trying to decide between Van Heusen and Allen Solly. Whether I was a child trying to meet the fashion trends of the world or a student trying to ace my first big interview or working in the financial capital of the country, I have always found ways to go back to the store which not only gave me the tangible clothes to make myself presentable but also gave me the memories which will forever be etched in my mind.
As we go through life, we are faced with certain situations which form hurdles and stop us on our path. We find the strength to face such challenges with support from our friends and family and perseverance. Just like the waves in the sea, these challenges come and go and we have no control over them. One such challenge was when I was in eighth standard and my family had to move from New Delhi to Kolkata in the middle of my academic year. This situation came with several challenges. First one was that since it was the middle of the academic year, many schools were not open to accepting new students. Secondly, few days before we were supposed to move, half my family ended up with chicken pox which delayed our plans further. Nevertheless, my sisters and I managed to get into a school after we had recovered. However, now we were faced with the challenge of adjusting to the new environment, make new friends and catch up with all the studies that had been missed before the commencement of the exams which were to be held soon. Due to a change of boards, we also had to adjust to a new course structure. However, with some extra effort and support from teachers and friends I was able to catch up with my fellow classmates despite getting some low marks in the first set of exams. I also helped my younger sisters to adjust and get acquainted with the new course structure. This experience instilled in me the knack to get adjusted to changing circumstances quickly and believe that hard work always pays off. It has also helped me to be undeterred by challenges at my college and workplace.
Aditya Birla Group has touched a lot of lives whether it is helping the father of an autistic child through their insurance schemes or helping poor and deaf children by providing them with free cochlear implants. It has inspired us to take the leap as well. It has created a legacy and become a curator of change. It has, indeed, been big in everyone’s lives.