A country with more than 1.25 billion population, India’s growth story in every sector has been quite astounding. From infrastructure to finances, from communication to a one-stop shop, Aditya Birla Group, an Indian multinational conglomerate, has made a remarkable presence. Unknowingly since childhood, it has been a part of every millennial like me. From my first SIM card to my first set of formal clothes, I was unaware of how Aditya Birla Group has been a part of my life already. When I was first moving out to join college, it was Pantaloons and Planet Fashion which helped me add the latest trends into my wardrobe. How can I forget my first partywear I purchased from Forever 21, oh I’m still in love with it. I shouldn’t miss out mentioning Allen Solly and Van Heusen, my only stops for purchasing formal wears till date, although I keep switching between them. Belonging to a steel city and being associated with one, I have known the importance of manufacturing industries in India. Hindalco Industries, being one of the largest aluminium and copper manufacturing company, its products have been omnipresent in every Indian household since its journey in 1958. Every time I was leaving home to college, after my vacations, my mom used to pack dinner in Freshwrapp foils to keep them fresh during my journey, and all this was unnoticed. Aditya Birla Group has been building new relations and maintaining previous ties with society in every field. It has been attached to every individual by the small contributions made through its products and yet we don’t happen to notice where it comes from and the effort it takes.
Building meaningful relationships is very important in every sector or phase in lives. The most powerful influence in a human’s life comes from different bonds of relationship we establish. Our surroundings have the ability to create and channelize our thought process and abilities. We have this wonderful proverb which says, “ As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”. I read this sometime in my childhood but could never feel its essence and all that learning got stuck in the moral science books, until now. I have a habit of observing every detail around me and stumbled upon this silent girl in a corner of the room. It was the first day of my undergraduate college, the room full of students chirping and excited to start afresh.
After scanning her for quite a long time, I could analyze that she was a little shy and hadn’t interacted with anyone in the class. She did try approaching people in the subsequent classes, but none paid attention. This pattern continued for a couple of days, and she returned alone to the hostel, thinking that no one saw her. Often in the bustle of any situation, people take a brief look at someone's face, half listen to their name, continue trying to follow the conversation, and then within minutes, will have no idea to whom were they speaking. I could often find this girl stuck in such circumstances. With all my observations, I could understand that she was expressive in ways different than others and hence, after the little efforts she made, was still unheard. All she needed was a patient ear and a good company. I approached her and tried making a conversation, but she would smile and indulge in small talk. It took a lot of long conversations in the gradual days to reach a realization point when I understood how important it is to express and have someone to listen.
Back in those days, going to a therapist for mental health conditions or depression was not encouraged by many parents or society. Millions of people today don’t believe in the meaning and purpose to discover or pursue something in life. Then there are a few who believe in a life purpose but won't take the risk to identify or honor it. She was one belonging to both the categories, and I had understood that I had to turn this mess into a message. Over the years, the bond I developed with her grew stronger, and the anxious girl in the corner has a voice now which reaches the world through various mediums people understand. Sometimes it’s just the presence of an individual and a little push which helps overcome unavoidable situations in life. The moment she realized that she had a shoulder to support her mentally through every situation she was afraid of, she started pedaling the bicycle harder, and now, she can drive herself towards everything she wants without any help. On the last day of college, I found a note on my desk, which read, “The littlest thing can cause a ripple effect that changes your life.” It was that day when my journey to push beyond any introversion, shyness or reluctance to be who I am and to relate well with others and build mutually-supportive relationships that catapult two individuals to a higher level has helped drive a person back on the track where she belonged. That note and its meaning gave me immense pleasure, even more than the marks I had secured in my Class 4 Moral Science exam.