Ghanshyam Das Birla

Born: 10 April 1894, Pilani, Rajasthan
Died: 11 June 1983
Known for: Laying the foundations of the Birla group; a founder of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)

Early life

Ghanshyam Das Birla was born in Pilani in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan. His grandfather, Shiv Narayan Birla, was a traditional Marwari trader and moneylender. G.D. Birla entered business as a young man around the time of the First World War.

Building the Birla group

He started with a cotton mill in Delhi and then Keshoram Cotton Mills. He moved into jute and set up Birla Jute Mills in Bengal, at a time when the jute trade was controlled by European merchants. Birla Brothers Limited was formed in 1919. In the 1930s he added sugar and paper mills, and in the 1940s he founded Hindustan Motors, the maker of the Ambassador car, and the United Commercial Bank, now UCO Bank. After independence the group expanded into tea, textiles, cement, chemicals, rayon and steel tubes.

Public life

G.D. Birla was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and advised him on economic matters. He was among the most important supporters of the freedom movement from the business community, and he was one of the founders of FICCI in 1927. Gandhiji spent his last days at Birla House in New Delhi.

Education and charity

He founded many schools and colleges. The institute he started in his home town grew into the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, one of the best known engineering institutes in India. The family is also known for building the Birla Mandirs, as well as hospitals and planetariums.

Honours

He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1957. He died in 1983 at the age of 89. The G.D. Birla Award for Scientific Research is given in his memory.