BUSINESS, BENEVOLENCE & THE BIRLAS

HELLO! SPENDS THE DAY WITH NEERJA BIRLA AND HER YOUNGEST DAUGHTER ADVAITESHA, WHO IS PREPARING FOR HER DEBUT AT LE BAL, PARIS, THIS NOVEMBER. OUR RENDEZVOUS ALSO REVEALS THE CLOSE BONDS THE MEMBERS OF THE BIRLA FAMILY SHARE WITH ONE ANOTHER, AS WELL AS THEIR BELIEF IN THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING THEIR DREAMS

-  JEENA J BILLIMORIA

As HELLO! enters the stately Birla mansion, South Mumbai's poshest address, Neerja Birla, the lady of the manor, graciously welcomes us into her world. An educationist, mental health advocate and Founder and Chairperson of the Aditya Birla Education Trust (ABET), Neerja is the wife of Kumar Mangalam Birla, one of the country's premier industrialists. The couple have three beautiful children, (Ananyashree, 29, Aryaman, 26, and Advaitesha, 19), of whom we are about to meet the youngest.

Like her mother, Advaitesha is soft-spoken and passionate about making a difference in the world by bringing real change wherever it is possible. She has already proved herself with her impressive initiative, Ujaas, that has taken path-breaking strides in educating people about menstrual health and hygiene, and her keen interest in mental health, for which she's currently pursuing a degree in psychology in the UK.

The pair are warm and relaxed as they chat with us animatedly about a myriad of things, including Advaitesha's exciting debut at the prestigious and exclusive Le Bal in Paris later this year, the objects of their passions, the life their family leads behind closed doors, and the true meaning of happiness.

ADVAITESHA BIRLA

Advaitesha, tell us about your early years and education. What are your current plans?

 studied at the Aditya Birla World Academy in Mumbai, followed by IGCSE in the tenth grade, and then my A Levels. I'm currently studying in London, pursuing a degree in Psychology and Education Studies.

Tell us how your non-profit, Ujaas, began, and how it's helped educate young women...