Monday, September 15, 2008

In Memoriam: K.K. Birla


The end of August 2008 saw the passing of Indian industrialist K.K. Birla, at the age of eighty nine. Birla took the company founded by his father and built it into a conglomerate (and one of India's largest industrial groups) with a presence in multiple industries, including media, sugar, fertilizers, chemicals, heavy engineering, textiles, and shipping. Beyond his business interests he was also a philanthropist and an educator, setting up foundations to suppport history, culture, and the arts, and building the Birla Institute of Technology and Science... He also served in the upper house of parliament for many years.


Brings to mind another great Indian industrialist, J.R.D. Tata, who passed away in 1993... The country lost great leaders with the passing of these two men, they don't make them this way any more...

K. K. Birla, a Leader of Indian Business, Dies at 89
Industrialist K K Birla passes away
K.K. Birla leaves behind rich legacy
K.K. Birla: industrial tycoon and philanthropist

JRD Tata - Wikipedia
JRD Tata Biography
JRD Tata: A life extraordinary