An Indian conglomerate headquartered in Mumbai, India, the Aditya Birla Group (ABG) first started in the late 19thcentury by Seth Shiv Narayan Birla. Despite the British India’s stringent rules of establishing monopolies, he managed to succeed in building the family’s first fortune by launching a cotton and jute trading business in the town of Pilani, in Rajasthan, India. After the Independence, the Birla family ventured into a number of sectors, from the Grasim Industries established just 10 days after the independence to acquiring Indian Rayon Corporation followed by cement production, launching their first factory in 1985. The Birla group soon also entered the foreign market with Indo Thai Synthetics being their first subsidiary. The Aditya Birla Group that we know of today has created wealth and respect for the country and Indian entrepreneurship. The Aditya Birla Group stands for Integrity, Commitment, Passion, Seamlessness and Speed and with the power of these five has not only made its mark in the country but has emerged as a global business empire. The group is the largest Indian multi-national company, with manufacturing operations in the US.
In all these years, ABG has touched millions of lives. It runs 18 charitable hospitals serving a million villagers. The group has had a huge impact in my life and I see its presence all around me. Since childhood, I have been using the Freshwrapp Aluminium Foil for carrying my lunch to school. The Idea telecommunication service now known as Vodafone Idea has been my saviour for a decade now. Pantaloons and Forever 21 have been a frequent in my wardrobe and a special mention to Allen Solly and Van Heusen which saved me extensively when it comes to formals for women. Apart from this, Aditya Birla has significantly contributed in the country’s transportation system through Ultra Tech Cement and Birla Copper. Besides the mentioned few, Aditya Birla Group has contributed significantly in other industries like textiles, natural resources, carbon black, power, agribusiness, and financial services, playing a huge role in sustainability of the economy and ultimately helping the India’s citizens lead better lives.
How I overcome challenges?
“Believe in yourself, take on the challenges head on, and dig deep within yourself to conquer your fears.”
My parents have always motivated me to become the best version of myself, to have faith in dire times and belief when the situation gets tough. Being a good student all through my school life, I was shocked to realize that I wasn’t able to perform well during my bachelor’s of technology. This was mainly due to the fact that I wasn’t able to give proper attention to all subjects. Although, my parents did not put any pressure on me, I could sense a hint of concern from them. I felt like everyone around me was excelling but I wasn’t up to that mark. I decided to take immediate action in this regard, and promised myself that this type of an incident should not happen to me ever again. I concentrated and gave my time to each subject, and didn’t lose hope at any time. My optimism and perseverance helped me achieving the goal and I finally got a grip of my grades, and never once let them tumble again.
After my graduation I started working for an IT start-up in the month of October. I was advised not to start working at this time since the entrance exams for MBA were approaching. I faced some difficulty in managing both my job and preparation but my persistent efforts and hard work helped me sailed through these exams. I found ways of studying and preparing while travelling in metro, and studying till late after coming home. This also taught me the importance of time management. Soon I received calls from various B-schools and my dream of joining IIFT came true.
I never view challenges as a disadvantage or a hurdle. Instead I view them as opportunities of becoming a stronger more balanced version of myself.