"Never a Better Time to be in India": Kumar Mangalam Birla on KBC
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In a compelling conversation on the sets of Kaun Banega Crorepati, a quiz show hosted by Amitabh Bachchan, its latest guest, Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, discussed India's burgeoning global influence. Reflecting on the nation's rapid economic ascent, Birla, in a wide-ranging exchange with Bachchan, spoke about India’s economic ascent, demographic strength, and the values that underpin sustainable growth.
Birla admitted that at the start of his career, he could not have believed that India would one day become a larger economy than Japan. He highlighted that India is now the fastest-growing large economy in the world, a feat he described as being so rapid that it is difficult to even fully estimate its scale.
Central to Birla's optimism is India's demographic dividend. He identified the nation's youth as its greatest "trump card," pointing out that within the next five years, India will have a working population of one billion people. This massive human resource, he argued, makes this the absolute best time for young people to be in India.
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Birla also explained that India's success is not just about numbers, but about the "India Growth Model". This model is unique because it involves achieving rapid economic expansion while simultaneously preserving the country's rich culture and values. Bachchan echoed this sentiment, noting that the Birla family itself serves as a prime example of a legacy built on a foundation of centuries-old knowledge and values.
"There has never been a better time to be young, to be an Indian, and to be in India,” Birla concluded.
In a more personal moment, Birla revealed a pivotal moment regarding his education. After graduation, he wished to pursue an MBA, but his father, Aditya Birla, insisted he first qualify as a Chartered Accountant (CA). His father gave him a clear ultimatum: if he did not become a CA, there would be no place for him to work in the office. Even when Birla sought intervention from his grandfather, B.K. Birla, who told him he must complete the qualification, which taught him that there are no shortcuts to professional credibility.