Aditya Vikram Birla
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| Aditya Vikram Birla | |
| Born | November 14, 1943 Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
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| Died | October 1, 1995 (aged 51) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. |
| Occupation | Industrialist |
| Spouse | Rajashri Birla |
| Children | Kumar Mangalam (son), Vasavadatta (daughter) |
| Website Aditya Birla Group[1] |
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Aditya Vikram Birla (14 November 1943, - 1 October 1995), was an Indian 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.
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[edit] Life
Birla was born on 14th November, 1943 in Kolkata to industrialist Basant Kumar [1] and Sarala Birla. [2] 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.[1]
After college in Kalkata, Birla earned a degree in chemical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. [1] He was married to Rajashri and had a daughter Vasavadatta and a son Kumar Mangalam, [1] who now heads the Aditya Birla Group. [3]
In 1993, Birla was diagonosed with prostate cancer. His wife and son took on many of the resposibilities of the group [4] 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 October the 1st of october 1995. [1]
[edit] 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. [1]
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.[5]
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.[5]
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.
[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 scholars from among six Indian Institutes of Management, seven Indian Institutes of Technology and Birla Institute of Technology and Science receive this scholarship.
[edit] Notes and References
- ^ a b c d e f Hazarika, Sanjoy. "Aditya Vikram Birla, 52, A Leading Indian Businessman", New York Times, October 3, 1995. Retrieved on 2007-10-06. (English)
- ^ "Passing the Baton", Economic Times, May 27, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-10-06. (English)
- ^ At the helm (Aditya Birla Group Management Team). Aditya Birla Group. Retrieved on 2007-10-06.
- ^ "Story of one of India's prominent business families", Money Control, February 20, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-10-06. (English)
- ^ a b Aditya Vikram Birla:the story of a visionary (English). Aditya Birla Group. Retrieved on 2007-10-05.
