Aditya Vikram Birla
Encyclopedia
Aditya Vikram Birla was an India
n industrialist. Born into one of the largest business families of India, Birla oversaw the diversification of his group into textiles, petrochemicals and telecommunications. He was one of the first Indian industrialists to expand abroad, setting up plants in South east Asia, Philippines
and Egypt
, among other places. His unexpected death at the age of 52 left his young son
in charge of his group of companies
and also much doubt about whether it would survive him. These doubts however proved unfounded as his company has enjoyed good success and so has his legacy of philanthropic activities.
to industrialist Basant Kumar
and Sarala Birla. His grandfather Ghanshyam Das Birla
was an associate of Mahatma Gandhi
and had built his fortune on aluminium prospecting and as the manufacturer of the Ambassador car
.
After college in Kolkata, Birla earned a degree in chemical engineering
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
. He was married to Rajashri and had a daughter Vasavadatta and a son Kumar Mangalam
, who now heads the Aditya Birla Group
.
In 1993, Birla was diagnosed with prostate cancer
. His wife and son took on many of the responsibilities of the group There were rumors that he suffered a slipped disc in 1995, but it wasn't true and he was admitted to the Johns Hopkins Hospital
in Baltimore
for treatment for prostate cancer. After four months of struggle he died on the 1st of October 1995.
Aditya Vikram Birla, the chairman of the $2.3-billion Birla Group and an advocate of expanding Indian economic activity abroad, died Sunday at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore of complications arising from pneumonia, according to his business associates.
Mr. Birla, who was 51 and widely regarded as one of India's most successful businessmen, was admitted to the hospital about four months ago for treatment of a slipped disc. His associates said he had contracted pneumonia in the hospital.
Indian Prime Minister (then Finance Minister )Manmohan Singh called Mr. Birla "among the best and brightest citizens of India."
Career
After returning to India in 1965, Birla struck out on his own in textiles. His Eastern Spinning Mills in Kolkata quickly became a success, putting the group's sinking rayon and textile business back on track. He was then placed in charge of the corporation's expansion into the oil sector.
It was also the time that Indira Gandhi was consolidating her hold on the Congress Party with a series of populist moves-nationalizing banks and enacting draconian controls on private investment. Her socialist ideas clearly dampened his attempt to expand, to build world size-plants, to bring in world-class technology, or even modernize old plants. Having turned around Indian rayon, he now hungered around bigger challenges. His thoughts tuned eastward.
In 1969, Birla set up Indo-Thai Synthetics Company Ltd, the group's first overseas company. In 1973, he established P.T. Elegant Textiles to manufacture spun yarn. It marked the group's first venture in Indonesia. In 1974 Thai Rayon, the Group's Viscose Rayon Staple Fibre business was incorporated in Thailand. In 1975 The Indo Phil Group of companies, the first Indo-Filipino joint venture commenced production of spun yarn. In 1977 Pan Century Edible Oils was incorporated in Malaysia, going on to become the world's largest single-location palm oil refinery. In 1978 Thai Carbon Black, the Group's first carbon black company was incorporated in Thailand. In 1982 P.T Indo Bharat Rayon was established, the first producer of Viscose Staple Fibre in Indonesia.
All these ventures not only put the Birla group on world map but also carved a niche for corporate India.
Under his leadership the companies became the largest producer of Viscose staple fibre and refiner of palm oil.
Ghanshyam Das Birla died in 1983, bequeathing most of his companies to his grandson Aditya. With Aditya Vikram Birla as the chairman, the Birla group of companies saw success in the expansion of Hindustan Gas and in the conversion of the sick company. Indo-Gulf Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd, which was suffering from a liquidity crisis and poor management, into a blue-chip company.
had instituted the Aditya Birla Scholarships in memory of Aditya Vikram Birla, in order to recognise and award fresh talent and potential future leaders from prestigious institutes in India. Every year more than 40 scholars from among six Indian Institutes of Management
, seven Indian Institutes of Technology
and Birla Institute of Technology and Science
receive this scholarship.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n industrialist. Born into one of the largest business families of India, Birla oversaw the diversification of his group into textiles, petrochemicals and telecommunications. He was one of the first Indian industrialists to expand abroad, setting up plants in South east Asia, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, among other places. His unexpected death at the age of 52 left his young son
Kumar Mangalam Birla
Kumar Mangalam Birla is an Indian industrialist and the Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, one of the largest conglomerate corporations in India. He is also the Chancellor of the Birla Institute of Technology & Science.-Education and career:...
in charge of his group of companies
Aditya Birla Group
The Aditya Birla Group is an Indian multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Mumbai, India. It operates in 33 countries with more than 133,000 employees worldwide...
and also much doubt about whether it would survive him. These doubts however proved unfounded as his company has enjoyed good success and so has his legacy of philanthropic activities.
Life
Birla was born on 14 November 1943 in KolkataKolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
to industrialist Basant Kumar
Basant Kumar Birla
Basant Kumar Birla is the son of Ghanshyam Das Birla,, the father of the late Aditya Birla, Grandfather of Kumar Mangalam Birla, brother of Krishna Kumar Birla and Chairman of BK Birla Group, Krishnarpan Charity Trust, BK Birla Institute of Engineering & Technology, Pilani and various educational...
and Sarala Birla. His grandfather Ghanshyam Das Birla
Ghanshyam Das Birla
Ghanshyam Das "G.D." Birla was an Indian businessman and member of the influential Birla Family.Birla's grandfather Shiv Narayana Birla wanted to diversify from the traditional marwari business of lending money against pawned items. He left Pilani, his hometown in Rajasthan with a modest capital...
was an associate of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
and had built his fortune on aluminium prospecting and as the manufacturer of the Ambassador car
Hindustan Ambassador
The Hindustan Ambassador is a car manufactured by Hindustan Motors of India. It has been in production since 1958 with few modifications or changes and is based on the Morris Oxford III model, first made by the Morris Motor Company at Cowley, Oxford in the United Kingdom from 1956 to 1959.Despite...
.
After college in Kolkata, Birla earned a degree in chemical engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
. He was married to Rajashri and had a daughter Vasavadatta and a son Kumar Mangalam
Kumar Mangalam Birla
Kumar Mangalam Birla is an Indian industrialist and the Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, one of the largest conglomerate corporations in India. He is also the Chancellor of the Birla Institute of Technology & Science.-Education and career:...
, who now heads the Aditya Birla Group
Aditya Birla Group
The Aditya Birla Group is an Indian multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Mumbai, India. It operates in 33 countries with more than 133,000 employees worldwide...
.
In 1993, Birla was diagnosed with prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
. His wife and son took on many of the responsibilities of the group There were rumors that he suffered a slipped disc in 1995, but it wasn't true and he was admitted to the Johns Hopkins Hospital
Johns Hopkins Hospital
The Johns Hopkins Hospital is the teaching hospital and biomedical research facility of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, located in Baltimore, Maryland . It was founded using money from a bequest by philanthropist Johns Hopkins...
in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
for treatment for prostate cancer. After four months of struggle he died on the 1st of October 1995.
Aditya Vikram Birla, the chairman of the $2.3-billion Birla Group and an advocate of expanding Indian economic activity abroad, died Sunday at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore of complications arising from pneumonia, according to his business associates.
Mr. Birla, who was 51 and widely regarded as one of India's most successful businessmen, was admitted to the hospital about four months ago for treatment of a slipped disc. His associates said he had contracted pneumonia in the hospital.
Indian Prime Minister (then Finance Minister )Manmohan Singh called Mr. Birla "among the best and brightest citizens of India."
Career
After returning to India in 1965, Birla struck out on his own in textiles. His Eastern Spinning Mills in Kolkata quickly became a success, putting the group's sinking rayon and textile business back on track. He was then placed in charge of the corporation's expansion into the oil sector.
It was also the time that Indira Gandhi was consolidating her hold on the Congress Party with a series of populist moves-nationalizing banks and enacting draconian controls on private investment. Her socialist ideas clearly dampened his attempt to expand, to build world size-plants, to bring in world-class technology, or even modernize old plants. Having turned around Indian rayon, he now hungered around bigger challenges. His thoughts tuned eastward.
In 1969, Birla set up Indo-Thai Synthetics Company Ltd, the group's first overseas company. In 1973, he established P.T. Elegant Textiles to manufacture spun yarn. It marked the group's first venture in Indonesia. In 1974 Thai Rayon, the Group's Viscose Rayon Staple Fibre business was incorporated in Thailand. In 1975 The Indo Phil Group of companies, the first Indo-Filipino joint venture commenced production of spun yarn. In 1977 Pan Century Edible Oils was incorporated in Malaysia, going on to become the world's largest single-location palm oil refinery. In 1978 Thai Carbon Black, the Group's first carbon black company was incorporated in Thailand. In 1982 P.T Indo Bharat Rayon was established, the first producer of Viscose Staple Fibre in Indonesia.
All these ventures not only put the Birla group on world map but also carved a niche for corporate India.
Under his leadership the companies became the largest producer of Viscose staple fibre and refiner of palm oil.
Ghanshyam Das Birla died in 1983, bequeathing most of his companies to his grandson Aditya. With Aditya Vikram Birla as the chairman, the Birla group of companies saw success in the expansion of Hindustan Gas and in the conversion of the sick company. Indo-Gulf Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd, which was suffering from a liquidity crisis and poor management, into a blue-chip company.
Legacy
The Aditya Birla GroupAditya Birla Group
The Aditya Birla Group is an Indian multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Mumbai, India. It operates in 33 countries with more than 133,000 employees worldwide...
had instituted the Aditya Birla Scholarships in memory of Aditya Vikram Birla, in order to recognise and award fresh talent and potential future leaders from prestigious institutes in India. Every year more than 40 scholars from among six Indian Institutes of Management
Indian Institutes of Management
The Indian Institutes of Management , are graduate business schools in India. They were set up with the objective of providing management education and to assist the industry through research and consulting services. The IIMs award diplomas and not degrees.- Institutes :Indian Institute of...
, seven Indian Institutes of Technology
Indian Institutes of Technology
The Indian Institutes of Technology are a group of autonomous engineering and technology-oriented institutes of higher education. The IITs are governed by the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961 which has declared them as “institutions of national importance”, and lays down their powers, duties,...
and Birla Institute of Technology and Science
Birla Institute of Technology and Science
Birla Institute of Technology & Science, is a private university located in Pilani, Rajasthan, India. BITS Pilani is considered one of the most prestigious and selective universities in India...
receive this scholarship.
