Ghanshyam Das Birla – The Founder of Birla Group of Companies and FICCI
Ghanshyam Das Birla was considered to be one of the richest industrialists of India. He was the person who laid the foundations of the Birla Empire; He also founded Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
Personal Life of G.D Birla
Ghanashyam Das was born on 10th April 1894, in Pilani, Rajasthan. His father Baldev Das Birla and Grandfather Shiv Narain Birla had previously established successful industrialists.
They had set up their firms in Bombay and Calcutta by that time. After taking over from them, Ghanashyam had to face several challenges from the British and worked hard to build up a new industrial empire in India.
Established Temples, Institutions and Planetariums
Birla established educational and research institutions in Pilani, his home town, and in other places. ‘Bits Pilani’ (Birla Institute of Technology and Science) is a famous center for high tech studies and research.
He also established many temples which is popularly known as Birla Mandir, planetariums, and hospitals.
Awarded “Padma Vibhushan” in 1957
In 1957, he was awarded India’s second highest civilian honor, the “Padma Vibhushan” by the Government of India.
Author of books in Hindi and English, like Rupaye ki Kahani, Bapu, Jamanlal Bajaj, Paths to Prosperity, In the Shadow of the Mahatma, G.D. Birla was the man behind the founding of the noted the newspaper Hindustan times of Delhi.
He is also noted as founded of Ambassador Car of India which is manufactured by Hindustan Motors of Calcutta, a company owned by the Birla Group of Industries.
Ghanshyam Das Birla died in 1983 at the age of 90. In his honour, G.D. Birla award for scientific Research has been established to encourage scientists for their contribution in the various fields of scientific Research.
