Basant Kumar Birla Biography 
Basant Kumar Birla is an industrialist belonging to Birla group of industries. He was born to famous industrialist, Ghanshyam Das Birla who is better known as the close associative of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi was staying in Birla’s house for the last three months when he got assassinated. Now Birla group has reached its fourth generation from Ghanshyam Das Birla to his son Basant Kumar Birla and later from Aditya Vikram Birla to Kumar Mangalam Birla. Now Birla Group has branched into more than 40 countries with 130,000 employees and $40 billion turnover. More than 50% income comes from outside India and the group is India’s leading commodities conglomerate. Basant Kumar Birla currently serves as the chairman of the Krishnarpan Charity Trust, BK Birla Institute of Engineering & Technology and is also associated with many educational institutions and trusts.
Birla was born in 1921 as the youngest son of Ghanshyam Das Birla. By the age of 15 he was associated with family business. The group concentered on textile industries and was also associated with commodities like paper, shipping, cement, tea, coffee, cardamom, chemicals, refractory etc. Indo Ethiopian Textiles Share Company was the major company established by him. It was one of the leading private Indian companies then. In 1942, he got married to writer Brijlal Biyani’s daughter, Sarala and the couple had three children – one son and two daughters.
He has authored a few books including his autobiography work and is known as a philanthropist associated with educational institutions and charity trusts. He currently manages BK Birla Institute of Engineering & Technology in Pilani.
Published: N/A
Updated: June 19, 2014
