K.K. Birla, noted industrialist and former Rajya Sabha member, died on Saturday morning at his residence in Kolkata after a brief illness. He was 90.
The Chairman of Hindustan Times and several Birla group of industries is survived by three daughters Nandini Nupani, Shobhana Bhartia, who is Vice-chairperson and Editorial Adviser of Hindustan Times and Saroj Potddar.
Birla was ailing for the last two weeks and the end came at 7.30 am, family members said. His wife Manorama Devi Birla, died about a month ago.
Son of Ghanshyam Das Birla, Krishna Kumar Birla was born in Pilani, Rajasthan, on 12th October 1918.
He was amongst the founder members of the Indian sugar industry which he joined in 1940. Birla had established one of India's biggest business conglomerates and his industrial empire spans key industries like sugar, fertilizers, chemicals, heavy engineering, textiles, shipping, newspaper, etc.
He was a respected parliamentarian, socialite, philanthropist and scholar apart from being an industrialist.
Birla was a Rajya Sabha MP for 18 consecutive years. In 1961, he was elected Sheriff of Calcutta and in 1997, he was conferred Doctor of Letters by Pondicherry University. He has headed a number of Chambers of Commerce such as Indian Sugar Mills Association, Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
He established the K K Birla Foundation which has instituted annual awards for excellence in Indian literature, scientific research and Indian philosophy.
Obituary
Krishna Kumar Birla, popularly known as K K Babu, was a builder of modern institutions, ranging from industry to education, one of the famous symbols of which is the Birla Institute of Technology and Science in Pilani Rajasthan, his birthplace.
Born on November 11, 1918, Birla called it a historic day (his birthday) in his autobiography, "Brushes With History", as agreement of armistice for World War I was signed on that day.
K K Birla inherited a legacy in which the creation of wealth, philanthropy and political leadership was all regarded as part of nation building.
Spiritual strength and moral values were regarded part of KK Birla's personal credo. He built a Radha-Krishna Temple (popularly known as Birla Temple) here and many other institutions countrywide that enriched the fabric of Indian society.
He was responsible for expanding the famous Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, with extension of its campuses in Dubai, Goa and Hyderabad.
He was the chairperson of the Hindustan Times Group and had been a member of the Rajya Sabha for a long time. He is survived by three daughters - Nandini Nupani, Jyoti Potddar and Shobhana Bhartia.
The Chairman of Hindustan Times and several Birla group of industries is survived by three daughters Nandini Nupani, Shobhana Bhartia, who is Vice-chairperson and Editorial Adviser of Hindustan Times and Saroj Potddar.
Birla was ailing for the last two weeks and the end came at 7.30 am, family members said. His wife Manorama Devi Birla, died about a month ago.
Son of Ghanshyam Das Birla, Krishna Kumar Birla was born in Pilani, Rajasthan, on 12th October 1918.
He was amongst the founder members of the Indian sugar industry which he joined in 1940. Birla had established one of India's biggest business conglomerates and his industrial empire spans key industries like sugar, fertilizers, chemicals, heavy engineering, textiles, shipping, newspaper, etc.
He was a respected parliamentarian, socialite, philanthropist and scholar apart from being an industrialist.
Birla was a Rajya Sabha MP for 18 consecutive years. In 1961, he was elected Sheriff of Calcutta and in 1997, he was conferred Doctor of Letters by Pondicherry University. He has headed a number of Chambers of Commerce such as Indian Sugar Mills Association, Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
He established the K K Birla Foundation which has instituted annual awards for excellence in Indian literature, scientific research and Indian philosophy.
Obituary
Krishna Kumar Birla, popularly known as K K Babu, was a builder of modern institutions, ranging from industry to education, one of the famous symbols of which is the Birla Institute of Technology and Science in Pilani Rajasthan, his birthplace.
Born on November 11, 1918, Birla called it a historic day (his birthday) in his autobiography, "Brushes With History", as agreement of armistice for World War I was signed on that day.
K K Birla inherited a legacy in which the creation of wealth, philanthropy and political leadership was all regarded as part of nation building.
Spiritual strength and moral values were regarded part of KK Birla's personal credo. He built a Radha-Krishna Temple (popularly known as Birla Temple) here and many other institutions countrywide that enriched the fabric of Indian society.
He was responsible for expanding the famous Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, with extension of its campuses in Dubai, Goa and Hyderabad.
He was the chairperson of the Hindustan Times Group and had been a member of the Rajya Sabha for a long time. He is survived by three daughters - Nandini Nupani, Jyoti Potddar and Shobhana Bhartia.
His wife Manorama Devi Birla died in Kolkata on July 29.
Fact file: Dr KK Birla
* Dr KK Birla was the Chairman of HT Media Ltd.* He passed BA (Hons) from Lahore University in 1939.
* Dr KK Birla joined Congress Party in 1984 as a life member. He was elected as a Rajya Sabha member in the same year, under the leadership of Indira Gandhi. He was a Member of Parliament for three terms from 1984 till 2002.
* Dr Birla was a successful industrialist having interests in Textiles, Sugar, Engineering, Shipping, Fertilizers and Information Technology.
* Dr Birla also served as the Chairman/Chancellor of Birla Institute of Technology & Science since 1983.
* He also served for Central Board of State Bank of India and also on the Board of ICICI for many years. He was a member of a number of committees appointed by the Government of India.
* Dr Birla had established KK Birla Foundation, which confers annually, awards in Indian Literature, Scientific research, Indian philosophy, Art and Culture and Sports.
* He also set up KK Birla Academy that undertakes research in Scientific, Historical and Cultural subjects.
* He liked reading, music and playing Bridge in his leisure time. He was president of the Bridge Federation of India for a number of years and of Lawn Tennis Association.
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