In Indian culture, We consider the sun as a Creator or supreme force behind the existence of life. Without Sun, our lives would be unsustainable. Whenever I see Aditya Birla Group logo in TV commercials, I realize that just like sunrays, ABG is also omnipresent and it is also a vital force behind millions of people.

Some years back, I had been toa nearby city for shopping because my hometown didn't have that many varieties of decent clothes to offer. That day, one of my friends told me that 'Allen Solly' and 'Van Heusen' are Indian brands. I didn’t know that earlier! What an embarrassment! Deep down inside, I felt good. From textiles to telecom, ABG is everywhere. Indian conglomerate having this much international presence was a proud moment for me.

I don't admire ABG for their omnipresence; I admire their farsightedness. Way before liberalisation, ABG expanded itself globally and proved that Indian business could go global even if it is headquartered in India. India is known as a country where the manufacturing sector is not that developed. But ABG acted as a spine for the Indian manufacturing sector for long.

Innumerable infrastructure projects in this country on which people are dependent today are constructed using 'Ultratech cement.' The mobile screen of my mobile phone used aluminium from 'Hindalco.’ Carbon black from ABG industries is used in various automobiles and machinery. I consider it as a crucial step towards a sustainable world. There is hardly any sector where ABG has not reached.

Today, CSR activities of the ABG group brought a ray of hope for millions of people. Different health care activities, model village programs, educational initiatives reached that section of society which may not have used ABG products directly.

With the spread across almost 34 countries and people with nearly 42 nationalities, at any given moment, ABG industries are always working. To sum up, I would say ABG has grown to ' an empire where the sun never sets.'

THE CHALLENGE OF GETTING OUT OF FEAR-

'Only thing we have to fear is fear itself.'–Franklin D. Roosevelt.

I am narrating the story of a boy who was on the verge of becoming permanent cripple somehow managed to become normal again. Yes, that boy was me.

I was just a nine years old boy when I broke my leg in a small accident. Expected healing time was around eight weeks after plaster cast. After the stipulated time, my leg was healed entirely according to medical reports. But the problem was even complex. Though my leg was healed, I could not walk properly. I was not able to distribute a load of my body equally on both legs.

According to the doctor, I was a victim of the phobia of getting hurt again. In medical terms, it is called as Traumatophobia. My brain was not allowing my one leg to walk normally. Strangers used to think that I have some disability.

My family tried to encourage me. They tried different tricks to make me forget the incidence happened. At one point, they all lost their hopes.

On one beautiful day, I was busy doing my homework. Suddenly I heard some hissing sound from the gallery. One black Indian cobra was trying to find shelter in the bushes close to the door. Within a fraction of second, I found myself in another room. I was standing on both legs with an equal load on them.

Nobody took that black Indian cobra seriously. My family was more than happy for my leg. That Cobra was never seen anywhere after that day. The only spectator was me.

I am not sure if I saw a cobra there. According to my father, a cobra in such a highly populated area was unlikely. Was it a fear of snake which killed the fear of getting hurt again? I don’t know.

That day onwards, I could walk normally. Over the years, I am well convinced that there was no snake at all. My mind created another fear to overcome one.

How is that possible? Yes. It's possible. Only thing is you must have a strong desire to overcome your problem.

Sharangdeshpande

The ABG- 'An empire where the sun never sets'|Sharang Deshpande,IIM Visakhapatnam