Part A:
The very notion to think about how Aditya Birla Group is big in our life is very understating. From various retail brands to multi sector industries, Aditya Birla Group has been one of the biggest influencers with a significant impact in our lives. The Group’s products are intertwined in such a way that we unknowingly forget how essential they are in our day to day life. Apart from being a daily commodity, Aditya Birla Group has introduced many first in our life’s. It would be a white lie to say that it didn’t introduce anything in my life.
I was looking for my first cell phone number. Being a middle-class student in 2012, I was looking for an affordable plan for my daily operations, that is when Idea – Aditya Birla Group’s then Telecom product, came into my life. Though the number changed through the years, I now use a Vodafone Idea number, a joint venture from the group. Let’s Shift from the telecom industry to the clothing Industry. My First ever suit was from ‘Van Heusen’ gifted by my uncle, which I had cherished for more than 3 years. I used to wear local made clothes only once upon a time. Then my Mom bought me my first Branded T-shirt from ‘Allen Solly’, which was my favorite t-shirt for 5 years almost. The brand ‘People’ has been with me in one of the most crucial stages of my life – undergraduate college. The brand has been like a partner in disguise during this unstable time. Affordability and comfort of the clothing line, helped me build an identity for myself. The brand was only available to me through online retail stores, and I made it a habit to only order “People”. ‘Pantaloons’ India’s biggest one stop shop for branded clothes has been a savior for me when it comes for shopping during festivities. Pantaloons has a 4-level outlet in my hometown, Kolkata, which has always been my destination during any weddings, pujas or any other event. Whether I had to buy a gift or something for my place, this outlet was always my go-to place. Pantaloons was a go-to place for not only me but for almost everyone in the city.
The Group’s other products like aluminum, black carbon, cement etc. though didn’t directly impact us in our daily to lives but as I said in the first few lines, they are extremely essential in our day to day life. From Buildings to car tires, Aditya Birla Group has a part in it all. The Group has left a mark in many individuals like me and I wish for them to continue this legacy for the years to come.
Part B:
Challenges in life are kind of hardships which every one has to deal with. They are taxing and stressful which might a wear down a person mentally or physically and if not dealt with ends up in serious repercussions. But a person who overcome these hardships and challenges are the ones who are well rehearsed to tackle any upcoming challenges in life.
I was born in a middle-class family and like various middle-class family we had hardships and challenges all of my life. My mother and biological father got separated when I was 3 years old. I was raised by my grandparents, aunt’s family as well as my mom’s new family, taking turns in raising me every year. I used to juggle from house to house in a period of weeks and I have never been stable in a particular house till I reached college. I couldn’t call a place my proper home.
This seemed to be a difficult challenge for me as being a kid I couldn’t relate my life to those of my friends. Apart from these, why my surname was that of my maternal grandparents, why only my mother only used to turn up for parent teacher meetings and birthdays and the continuous question of where my father is, was one of the few queries of my friends and their families. It was difficult for me to explain them about my situation to others specially my friends as during those days the thought process of people was not as advanced socially as it is today. The very idea to tell someone was actually stressful and I couldn’t talk about it as it seemed extremely shameful for no reason.
My situation started deteriorating as I grew older and it started affecting my mental well-being, education and my social life. I had to do something. That is when I took a step and decided to talk about it to my closest friend. It reduced the stress a lot and made me feel lighter. I got to understand that taking about a hardship is one of the best ways tackle a mental challenge. I furthermore, decided to never be down, I made myself believe that that I am in a very good situation compared to so many kids out there and I should be grateful to it and not cry about it and to be open about my situation to everyone.
Talking about a hardship help as lot. For me, though it wasn’t an absolute solution to my problems but was actually a huge helping hand to the mental state I was in and still helps me today. Whenever I have a problem or a challenge, the first thing I do is to talk about it to a trusted friend or family. Sometimes I get the courage, sometimes I get the solution but, in the end, it gives me the best assistance that I need to make an impact and overcome a challenge.