I come from a humble background of rural India. I used to hear stories about big industrialists during my childhood like Tata and Birla for their contribution to the country and society at large. Those incidents used to trigger and reinforce my mind to do something for our country and people. My father was in Army so serving the nation was on the top of my head by default. That time I had only one idea in my mind to join the forces. As I was growing up, I realized that there are myriad ways to serve the nation, for example helping the nation on the economic front via industry, social work, creating global business leaders among other areas. This is in complete conformity with ABG's work since last seven decades of responsible business practices which have grown into global powerhouses in a wide range of sectors – metals, textiles, carbon black, telecom and cement. It is in league of Fortune 500 companies, anchored by an extraordinary force of over 120,000 employees belonging to 42 nationalities.
My interaction with ABG happened to be on a very religious context with their telecom services Idea sim card. Few years back I wanted to go and worship Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu. When I decided to go, I got to know that prepaid services did not work in Jammu & Kashmir state, only post paid did. Coincidentally during those days I got a call from an Idea executive regarding post paid plan. Getting a new post paid sim within short span of time is not an easy task. I was served well by their executive, they came all the way to my place and my new postpaid number was activated shortly. This made me excited and helped me to go to Jammu & Kashmir which I had planned enthusiastically. For the time being it was jeopardized due to unavailability of a proper contact number. I enjoyed the tour and puja and remained connected to my near and dear one's seamlessly. I have used many other products of ABG for example UltraTech cement and Peter England clothes. But I chose to mention Idea network because it was very close to my heart and related to the company's value system. Also when I started my management programme from TISS Mumbai, it was like reimagining my future and will be pivotal in my further career development, I bought suit at reasonable price from Peter England. More than wearing the suit, it's the feeling of association with ABG which happened to me coincidentally. If I go further and connect the dots, I got a chance to learn during my field immersion in the organisation of UltraTech cement, part of ABG which will certainly have great impact on my practical learning and successful career ahead.These mentioned incidents truly depict that there is some unsaid connection of my life with ABG.
Overcoming the challenges
We all face obstacles in life so did I. Overcoming the challenges, keeping the value system intact is of utmost importance. This is what I believe and learnt from Gandhi's Seven
Deadly
Sins. "Wealth without work, Pleasure without conscience, Science without humanity, Knowledge without character, Politics without principle, Commerce without morality, Worship without sacrifice.” These values are reflected in the saying of ABG chairman Mr Kumar Mangalam Birla when he says "I reiterate that, if living by our values means, perhaps growing at a pace slower than we would otherwise have liked, so be it". As I come from rural india and studied till intermediate in vernacular language, I faced english language as challenge when I went for higher studies especially engineering and management courses. But I learned the language and comfortably passed engineering with two job offers from the campus placement.
After working for 2 years, I decided to join civil services to serve the country in best possible manner. I gave few attempts and had to leave my job for focussed preparation. Unfortunately I could not make it to the merit list. Though I gained knowledge and became a better well read, well informed citizen with wider perspective, I was lagging behind on professional front. I had no job and it was very difficult to even get what I had previously. That was tough time to cope up still I decided to be resilient and joined the industry by accepting whatever role I was offered. Deep inside me I was contemplating to go to next level and find a better and challenging role. It was not that I did not like my work or I cribbed about it. I was somewhere happy that I had made a choice and I was living my life. That phase also taught me the dignity of labour at every level of organisation and life at large. And here comes the blessings in disguise, I decide to pursue higher education and got admitted to TISS Mumbai. The campus has given me number of opportunities to learn and grow not only academically but also on personality development front. I would get so many friends and become part of TISS legacy which will provide me wider network for future career growth. The value system, learning English language, taking my own decision and accepting the outcome arising out of that, knowledge gained during preparation helped me a lot in entrance exam of TISS.
Without boasting, I can reasonably say that the background I come from, I have started to learn how to overcome challenges in life by facing and accepting it.
#ABGWOO
