Born On: November 14, 1943

Born In: Kolkata, West Bengal

Died On: October 1, 1995
Career: Industrialist
Nationality: Indian
The grandson of the legendary G.D. Birla, Aditya Vikram Birla was one of the mos
t inspirational and outstanding industrialists that India has ever had. His inno
vative ideas and marvelous abilities helped India to expand trade to foreign cou
ntries, thereby leaving an indelible mark on the corporate landscape. He was one
of the first Indian industrialists to set up the largest multinational empire,
thereby creating India s first truly global corporation. Apart from carrying forwa
rd his grandfather s legacy, he introduced the concept of sustainable livelihood , wh
erein he taught people to work and feed themselves and their families for lifeti
me rather than simply living on the food given. With this, he not only gained na
me and fame amongst the masses but also set an example for other businessmen to
learn from him. With his magnificent and phenomenal efforts to develop his busin
ess across India and overseas, he became the new face of Indian business - profe
ssional, modern, and forward looking.
Early Life
Aditya Vikram Birla was born to the industrialist Basant Kumar Birla and Sarala
Birla in Kolkata in West Bengal. He was the grandson of the legendary G.D. Birla
, a prominent industrialist and founder of the vast Birla industrial empire. The
latter had good terms with Mahatma Gandhi and began his fortune with building t
he popular Ambassador car and aluminum prospecting. Aditya received his formal e
ducation from Kolkata and graduated in science from St. Xavier s College. He then
went to United States to pursue higher studies in chemical engineering from Mass
achusetts Institute of Technology.
Career Life
After Aditya completed his degree course in chemical engineering, he returned to
India and was handed over a part of Birla Company to run. Not to be satisfied w
ith just that, he started his own textile business with Eastern Spinning Mills t
hat became an instant hit in Kolkata. With this, he put the company s sinking rayo
n and textile business back on track. This was, however, just the beginning as h
e showed immense interest and paved the group towards success with every assignm
ent handed over. Aditya s next challenge was the expansion of the group s oil sector
which again was a victorious attempt. However, with Indira Gandhi s socialist ide
as of preventing foreign trade, importing world-class technology, and expansion
of old plants, Aditya concentrated on Indian rayon with accepting bigger challen
ges of taking it worldwide. Instead of moving towards the West, Aditya focused o
n the east and set up Indo-Thai Synthetics Company Ltd. in Thailand in 1969, the
reby launching the group s first overseas company.
Flourishing Years
After the flying success of Indo-Thai Synthetics Company Ltd., Aditya establishe
d P.T. Elegant Textiles for manufacturing spun yarn in Indonesia in 1973. This w
as the company s first venture there. In 1974, he incorporated the group s Viscose R
ayon Staple Fiber as Thai Rayon in Thailand. In the following year in 1975, the
first Indo-Filipino joint venture producing spun yarn was established with The I
ndo Phil Group of Companies in The Philippines. Over the next few years, Aditya
launched several more companies and joint ventures throughout the Southeast. He
established Pan Century Edible Oils in Malaysia in 1977, which later became the
world s largest single-location palm oil refinery. In 1978, he launched the group s
first carbon black company, Thai Carbon Black in Thailand and in 1982, P.T. Indo
Bharat Rayon in Indonesia. These were just some efforts that transformed the Bi
rla Group into a blooming blue-chip company and one of India s largest business co
nglomerates. Aditya, himself became one of India s foremost businessmen. With imme
nse profits from overseas joint industrial ventures, Birla Group became the larg
est multinational company set up by a resident Indian industrialist. By the 1980
s, Aditya had established 19 companies in South and Southeast Asia and the Middl
e East.
Contribution to India
It was under the dynamic and influential leadership of Aditya Birla that the com
pany was able to intensify and firm its presence in the core sectors. Even befor
e the word globalization was included in India s dictionary, Aditya set up a globa
l business empire, thereby placing India on the world map in 1969. Under his gui
dance, the companies were making immense profits in key sectors of textiles, cem
ent, aluminum, chemicals, fertilizers, fiber, financial services, sponge iron, s
oftware, and petro-refinery. Aditya is said to be highly responsible for buildin
g and improving the country s commodity business. With the marvelous success of hi
s Grasim, Hindalco, Indian Rayon, and Indo Gulf Fertilizers, he helped several c
ompanies prosper.
Though his companies had over 70,000 employees, Aditya was actually generating i
ndirect employment for more than 2 lakh people. Such was the contribution and pr
osperity brought to India that Aditya helped in earning respect for the Made in I
ndia quality stamp. Besides giving name to one of the largest industrial empires
in India, Aditya Birla served as the director of Reserve Bank of India, Air Indi
a, and The India Fund. He had been a member of the Economic and Trade Mission to
Japan led by late L.K. Jha in 1985. Further, he even served as a member of the
Trade Mission led by the Indian Finance Minister in 1992. He was appointed as a
director on the boards of Industrial Credit and Industrial Corporation, Infrastr
ucture Leasing and Financial Services Ltd., and Bajaj Auto amongst other organiz
ations.
Personal Life
Aditya Vikram Birla was married to Rajshree. The couple had two kids, daughter V
asavadatta (married to Kushagra Nayan Bajaj), and son Kumar Mangalam (current he
ad of the Aditya Birla Group).
Death
Aditya Birla was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1993, thereby transferring th
e responsibilities of the group to wife and son. He was admitted to Johns Hopkin
s Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, United States for treatment and died after fo
ur months of struggle on October 1, 1995, at the age of 51, leaving the entire B
irla Empire under the charge of his young son Kumar Mangalam.
Honors & Awards
Outstanding Young Person Award by Bombay Metropolitan Jaycees, 1978
Outstanding Citizen Award by North Bombay Jaycees, 1984
Man of the Year Award by Amravathi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, 1985
Giant International s Award in the filed of Business & Industry, 1986
Business Leadership Award by Madras Management Association, 1990
Businessman of the Year Award by Business India, 1990
Management Man of the Year Award by Bombay Management Association, 1992
Rashtra Bhushan Award by FIE Foundation, 1992
Platinum Jubilee Rotary Award for contribution to industry by Rotary Club of Cal
cutta, 1994
Vocational Excellence Award by Rotary International, January 1995
Lifetime Achievement Award by All India Association of Industries, January 1996
Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Phenomenal Growth of the Indian Cement
Industry by All India Management Association, September 1996
Melvin Jones Fellow Award for Dedicated Humanitarian Services by Lions Club Inte
rnational Foundation
Paul Harris Fellow Award by Rotary Foundation of Rotary International
Timeline
1943: Born in Kolkata, West Bengal
1965: Completed chemical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
and returned to India
1965: Started Eastern Spinning Mills in Kolkata
1969: Set up Indo-Thai Synthetics Company Ltd. in Thailand
1973: Established P.T. Elegant Textiles in Indonesia
1974: Incorporated Thai Rayon in Thailand
1975: Launched The Indo Phil Group of companies in Philippines
1977: Set up the world s largest single-location palm oil refinery, Pan Century Ed
ible Oils in Malaysia
1978: Established Thai Carbon Black in Thailand
1982: P.T. Indo Bharat Rayon launched in Indonesia
1985: Conferred upon the Man of the Year Award by Amravathi Chamber of Commerce
& Industry
1990: Awarded Businessman of the Year Award by Business India
1995: Died on October 1 from prostate cancer in Baltimore, USA, aged 51
1996: Bestowed with Lifetime Achievement Award by All India Association of Indus
tries

Aditya Vikram Birla

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Aditya Vikram Birla
Born November 14, 1943
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Died October 1, 1995 (aged 51)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.
Occupation Industrialist
Religion Hindu
Spouse Rajashri Birla
Children Kumar Mangalam (son), Vasavadatta (daughter)
Website
Aditya Birla Group [1]
Aditya Vikram Birla (14 November 1943, - 1 October 1995), was an Indian industri
alist. Born into one of the largest business families of India, Birla oversaw th
e diversification of his group into textiles, petrochemicals and telecommunicati
ons. 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 unexpe
cted death at the age of 52 left his young son in charge of his group of compani
es 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 o
f philanthropic activities.
Contents [hide]
1 Life
2 Career
3 Legacy
4 Notes and references
5 External links
[edit]Life
Birla was born on 14 November 1943 in Kolkata to industrialist Basant Kumar [1]
and Sarala Birla.[2] His grandfather Ghanshyam Das Birla was an associate of Mah
atma Gandhi and had built his fortune on aluminium prospecting and as the manufa
cturer of the Ambassador car.[1]
After college in Kolkata, Birla earned a degree in chemical engineering at the M
assachusetts Institute of Technology.[1] He was married to Rajashri and had a da
ughter Vasavadatta and a son Kumar Mangalam,[1] who now heads the Aditya Birla G
roup.[3]
In 1993, Birla was diagnosed with prostate cancer. His wife and son took on many
of the responsibilities of the group [4] There were rumors that he suffered a s
lipped 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 s
truggle he died on the 1st of October 1995.[1]
Aditya Vikram Birla, the chairman of the $2.3-billion Birla Group and an advocat
e of expanding Indian economic activity abroad, died Sunday at Johns Hopkins Hos
pital in Baltimore of complications arising from pneumonia, according to his bus
iness associates.[5]
Mr. Birla, who was 51 and widely regarded as one of India's most successful busi
nessmen, was admitted to the hospital about four months ago for treatment of a s
lipped disc. His associates said he had contracted pneumonia in the hospital.[5]
Indian Prime Minister (then Finance Minister )Manmohan Singh called Mr. Birla "a
mong the best and brightest citizens of India."[5]
[edit]Career
After returning to India in 1965, Birla struck out on his own in textiles. His E
astern Spinning Mills in Kolkata quickly became a success, putting the group's s
inking rayon and textile business back on track. He was then placed in charge of
the corporation's expansion into the oil sector.[1] It was also the time that I
ndira Gandhi was consolidating her hold on the Congress Party with a series of p
opulist moves-nationalizing banks and enacting draconian controls on private inv
estment. Her socialist ideas clearly dampened his attempt to expand, to build wo
rld size-plants, to bring in world-class technology, or even modernize old plant
s. 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 overse
as company. In 1973, he established P.T. Elegant Textiles to manufacture spun ya
rn. It marked the group's first venture in Indonesia. In 1974 Thai Rayon, the Gr
oup's Viscose Rayon Staple Fibre business was incorporated in Thailand. In 1975
The Indo Phil Group of companies, the first Indo-Filipino joint venture commence
d production of spun yarn. In 1977 Pan Century Edible Oils was incorporated in M
alaysia, going on to become the world's largest single-location palm oil refiner
y. In 1978 Thai Carbon Black, the Group's first carbon black company was incorpo
rated in Thailand. In 1982 P.T Indo Bharat Rayon was established, the first prod
ucer of Viscose Staple Fibre in Indonesia.[6]
All these ventures not only put the Birla group on world map but also carved a n
iche for corporate India.
Under his leadership the companies became the largest producer of Viscose staple
fibre and refiner of palm oil.[6]
Ghanshyam Das Birla died in 1983, bequeathing most of his companies to his grand
son Aditya. With Aditya Vikram Birla as the chairman, the Birla group of compani
es saw success in the expansion of Hindustan Gas and in the conversion of the si
ck company Indo-Gulf Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd, which was suffering from a l
iquidity crisis and poor management, into a blue-chip company.
[edit]Legacy
The Aditya Birla Group 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 sc
holars from among six Indian Institutes of Management, seven Indian Institutes o
f Technology and Birla Institute of Technology and Science receive this scholars
hip.
[edit]Notes and references
^ a b c d e f Hazarika, Sanjoy (1995-10-03). "Aditya Vikram Birla, 52, A Leading
Indian Businessman". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-10-06.
^ "Passing the Baton". Economic Times. 2005-05-27. Retrieved 2007-10-06.
^ "At the helm (Aditya Birla Group Management Team)". Aditya Birla Group. Retrie
ved 2007-10-06.
^ "Story of one of India's prominent business families". Money Control. 2005-02-
20. Retrieved 2007-10-06.
^ a b c Ny Times - Nolan
^ a b "Aditya Vikram Birla:the story of a visionary". Aditya Birla Group. Retrie
ved 2007-10-05.
[edit]External links
A V Birla image
Aditya Vikram Birla on Britannica
Aditya Vikram Birla Eulogy
Aditya Birla Group Homepage
[2] Not Allowed To Cry: Birla Battle with Cancer, ... By Ingrid Albuquerque Solo
mon, chronicles Aditya Birla's struggle and his ...
[hide]v · d · eAditya Birla Group
Companies
Aditya Birla Group · Birla Corporation · Grasim Industries · Hindalco Industries · Idea
Cellular · UltraTech Cement · More (store)
Notable non-Indian Companies
Novelis · Thai Peroxide · Liaoning Birla Carbon · A.V. Group · Aditya Birla Minerals Ltd
· Swiss Singapore Overseas Enterprises Pte Ltd · Thai Acrylic Fibre · Thai Rayon
School/Institutes
Aditya Birla Public School[disambiguation needed] · Aditya Birla Public School, Re
nukoot · Aditya Birla Public School, Renusagar
Notable People
Kumar Mangalam Birla · Baldeo Das Birla · Ghanshyam Das Birla · Krishna Kumar Birla · Ma
dhav Prasad Birla · Rameshwar Das Birla · Shobhana Bhartia · Aditya Vikram Birla

Aditya Birla

Aditya Birla (1944-1995) was a renowned Indian industrialist and former Chairman
of one of India's biggest multinational corporations- the Aditya Birla Group. A
ditya Vikram Birla was born into the formidable business family of the Birlas, a
nd is the grandson of the legendary G.D. Birla, who was one of India's most outs
tanding industrialists and founder of the vast Birla industrial empire. Besides
being a successful business tycoon, he also led a well-balanced family-life, alo
ng with his wife, son Kumarmangalam, the present Chairman, and a daughter.
Aditya Birla completed his formal education, graduating in science from St Xavie
r's College, Calcutta, and then earning a degree in chemical engineering from th
e Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston. On returning back to India in 1
965, Aditya entered the world of business and industry, with most of his venture
s leading either to successful expansions or profitable turnovers. His maiden ve
nture was the establishment of the Eastern Spinning Mills in Calcutta. It put th
e sinking rayon and textile business back on track and registered handsome profi
ts. His next few ventures saw his success in the expansion of Hindustan Gas and
the magnificent conversion of the sick Indo-Gulf Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd,
with liquidity and managerial crisis, into a booming blue-chip company. He then
went on to have a series of industrial and business successes over the years, ho
wever, after his grandfather's death in 1983, he had to play a bigger role. Over
the next 12 years, Aditya Birla expanded the Birla Empire making it one of Indi
a's largest business conglomerates and himself becoming one of India's foremost
businessmen. His overseas joint industrial ventures in Thailand, Indonesia, the
Philippines and Malaysia reaped immense gains, being the largest multinational c
ompany set up by a resident Indian industrialist. He has even held the post of d
irector of the Central Bank of India and Air India.
With its dominion spreading across India and south-east Asia, Aditya Birla's ind
ustries were involved in manufacturing of textiles, chemicals, engineering goods
, fertilisers, and palm oil. Amongst his manufacturing houses in India, Hindalco
(being amongst the largest low-cost producers of aluminium in the world) and Gr
asim (the largest producer of viscose staple fibre), shine greatly, reflecting t
he sheer brilliance of this industrial wizard. A thoroughbred businessman and in
dustrialist, Aditya Birla's determination and innovative theories carved a niche
for India, putting her on the world map amongst the world's largest companies.
He has also been instrumental with his advice on market reform policies to the I
ndian Government and is well known for his inspirational speeches that not only
motivated but proved effective as well.
Aditya Birla passed away suddenly, aged 51, in Baltimore on 1st October, 1995, o
wing to prostrate cancer. For his immense contributions, he was declared as 'Bus
iness Man of the Year' in 1990. Not many know that Aditya was himself an accompl
ished artist, in memory of him, the Aditya Vikram Birla Kalashikar Puraskar is a
warded to painters and sculptors. He would always be remembered for creating Ind
ia's first global corporation.
Mukesh Ambani Ghanshyam Das Birla Arun Sarin Amar Bose Azim Premji Sunil Bharti
Mittal Dhirubhai Ambani Lakshmi Niwas Mittal J.R.D. Tata Ratan Tata Swaraj Paul
Kiran Mozumdar Shaw