G. D. Birla Biography and Works.

Ghanshyam Das Birla was born on April 10, 1894. He was an Indian businessman and member of the influential Birla Family.

His grandfather, Shiv Narayan Birla was a traditional Marwari moneylender. Ghanshyam Das Birla entered the business arena during the time of the First World War. He established a cotton mill in Sabzi Mandi, Delhi and later on established the Keshoram Cotton Mills and also the jute business shifting his base to Calcutta (Kolkata), the capital city of Bengal, the world’s largest jute producing region.

Ghanshyam Das Birla is considered as a doyen of Indian Industry. He was the founder of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). He is also popularly known as the builder of Birla Mandirs. In 1919, the Birla Brothers Limited was formed and a mill was set up in Gwalior. In 1930s, G.D. Birla set up Sugar and Paper mills. In 1940s, he ventured into the territory of cars and established Hindustan Motors. After independence, Ghanshyam Das Birla invested in tea and textiles through a series of acquisitions of erstwhile European companies. He also expanded and diversified into cement, chemicals, rayon and steel tubes.

He was also the founder of various educational institutions. Pilani has today evolved into one of India’s best engineering schools. He also established many temples, planetariums and hospitals. Ghanshyam Das Birla died in 1983 at the age of 90. In his honour, the G.D. Birla Award for scientific research has been established to encourage the scientists for their contribution in various fields of scientific research. In 1957, he was awarded India’s second highest civilian honour, the Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India.

Trivia

There is a memorial to Ghanshyam Das Birla in the Golders Green Crematorium, Hoop Lane, London.