Challenge, test, trial, ordeal – are words that can have several meanings to different kinds of people. For some, getting a meal two times a day is an ordeal, while others consider getting hold of the newest Prada collection a challenge. Students struggle to get good marks in school, while some children can only dream of holding a book in their hands.
Being from what I consider a privileged background, I have not had many hardships in my life, however, there are certain challenges that I have overcome. Specializing in Chemical Engineering had always been one of my goals. I was always curious as to how machinery and equipment are designed to manufacture certain products. Hence, when I got the opportunity to work for a core chemical organization, I was beyond elated. However, I was posted in the industrial town of Durgapur in West Bengal. Professionally, it was quite interesting to learn about the manufacturing processes and parameters of the plant. But personally, I was struggling to adjust in a place where I didn’t understand the local language and was not accustomed to the local food. Part of my job was to interact with the Bengali speaking labor force. This proved to be a rather arduous task as neither of us understood what the other was saying.
I soon realized that I could not go on without knowing a little of the local language, therefore, I started the learning process from books and YouTube videos. As for the food, soon my palette was adjusted and after a while I started loving the taste of “parwal and maach”!
These challenges might seem meager to some, but they were a source of an incomparable learning opportunity for me. I realized that change is the only constant and growing along with the circumstances is the way to a successful life. Every living being has struggles and challenges they have to face, but we have to choose the struggles that are worth facing and turn them into a learning experience.
How Aditya Birla Group is "Big in my life"
“One feels very blessed to be born into a family like the Birla family, which is a household name in India, which stands for tradition, is yet contemporary, stands for trust.”
These words by Mr.Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group (ABG), truly epitomize the prestige and prominence of the Birla Empire, not only in India, but all over the world. Using the word “empire” in this context is quite apt, as, since 1857, Birlas have helped shape the Indian business landscape through a conglomeration of various ventures. From trading cotton, to now trading fortune, the Aditya Birla Group has become the 3rd largest private sector conglomerate in India. Not only in India, Aditya Birla Group is spread over 34 countries and is in the League of Fortune 500.
It would be rather unwise of one to think that a conglomerate of such magnitude would not have a big influence on the life of an Indian. From telecom and retail to manufacturing and financial services, Aditya Birla Group has its grip over a myriad sector. For me personally, Birla Carbon had an important role to play. Being a chemical engineer, I have worked in a carbon black manufacturing plant. It is used as a reinforcing agent in tires, and has various specialty applications. Imagining today’s automobile dependent world without carbon black is impossible. During the course of my work, I realized the importance of Birla Carbon as it is any carbon black manufacturer’s number one competitor. It operates in 12 countries with 16 manufacturing facilities. Moreover, its annual production capacity is 2 million tonnes. To have Birla Carbon as a competitor motivated us to sustainably work harder on the quality of our product and processes.
Now comes the part which I have in common with almost all Indians who love retail therapy. I am dependent on various outlets like Allen Solly, Van Heusen, Pantaloons and Forever 21; all of which are operated or owned by ABG. One can buy anything, from personal to professional wear in the above mentioned stores.
Telecom sector is another feather in the hat for the Aditya Birla Group. After its merger with Vodaphone, ABG’s Idea cellular network became India’s largest telecom company in terms of subscribers and revenue, surpassing competitors like Airtel.
Lastly, living up to its mission – “To deliver superior value to our customers, shareholders, employees and society at large.” The ABG group is responsible for opening many schools and universities all over India as a part of giving back to the society. Such social responsibility intermingled with a growth oriented and customer centric approach is what makes Aditya Birla Group “Big in Your Life”, not just in India, but all over the world.