The Birla Family, with its deep connections to India’s social and industrial past, is a prominent Indian family. The family’s roots can be traced back to the Maheshwari family, who were known for their association with Vaishya traders. However, in 1922, they were banished from their community due to allegations that Rameshwar Das Birla had violated the caste marriage norms.
Birla Family Tree
Being Marwari, the Birla Family is referred to as such by Rajasthani merchants, and their ancestral home is in Pilani, a town in North-east Rajasthan. The family continues to reside in Pilani and has established numerous educational institutions, including the well-known BITS, Pilani. In this article, we delve into the Birla Family Tree.
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Shiv Narayan Birla: A Legacy of Trade and Entrepreneurship
Shiv Narayan Birla, born in 1840 in Pilani, Rajasthan, was a pioneering Indian businessman who ventured beyond his hometown to establish himself as a successful trader in Ahmedabad and Bombay. His journey from modest beginnings to becoming a wealthy entrepreneur and a pivotal figure in India’s trade history is nothing short of inspiring.
Early Beginnings in Pilani
Shiv Narayan’s father, Seth Shobharam, was a local tradesman with limited resources who lived in Pilani in the early 19th century. It was a time when Ahmedabad was emerging as a significant trading hub, serving the northwest region of India. Shiv Narayan’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to explore the opportunities available in Ahmedabad, where he made his mark as a cotton trader.
The Cotton Trade and Opium Cultivation
Ahmedabad was a crucial center for the cotton trade, with many ginning facilities that cleaned cotton before exporting it to England. Shiv Narayan Birla was one of the first Indian traders to participate in this trade. However, the real turning point came when Britain began encouraging the trade of opium with China, and poppy cultivation was established in India.
Shiv Narayan recognized the potential in poppy cultivation and traded opium with China alongside Baldeo Das Birla, building the family fortune through this trade. They were among the few traders who charted cargo ships with other Marwadi tradersmen to bypass British middlemen.
Moving to Bombay
As Shiv Narayan’s wealth and business expanded, he relocated to Bombay in 1863 to facilitate his trading activities. Bombay provided the perfect infrastructure for Shiv Narayan to grow his business and access new markets. It was a bustling port city that allowed for easy access to international trade.
Legacy and Impact
The Birla family’s entrepreneurial legacy began with Shiv Narayan’s pioneering spirit and his ability to seize opportunities. The family’s business interests have diversified significantly since then, encompassing sectors such as textiles, cement, chemicals, and telecommunications. Shiv Narayan’s entrepreneurial spirit and success in trade paved the way for future generations of the Birla family.
Baldev Das Birla: The Legacy of a Visionary Businessman and Philanthropist
Baldev Das Birla, a name synonymous with enterprise, vision, and philanthropy, is a legendary figure in Indian business history. Born in Pilani, Rajasthan, in 1863, Baldev Das inherited his father’s trading business at a young age and went on to establish himself as one of the most successful industrialists of his time.
Early Life and Business Ventures
Baldev Das’s father, Shiv Narayan Birla, was a successful businessman who owned several cotton and trading factories in Rajasthan. After Shiv Narayan’s death, Baldev Das inherited his father’s business empire and expanded it to new heights. In the 1880s, he established Shivnarayan Baldevdas, a trading company in Bombay, which soon became a leading player in the cotton and textile industry.
Expansion to Calcutta
Baldev Das moved to Calcutta, where he established Baldevdas Jugalkishor, a company that specialized in trading jute and other agricultural products. His business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit helped him to establish a dominant presence in the region and expand his business further.
Succession and Philanthropic Activities
Baldev Das was succeeded by his four sons – Jugal Kishore Das, Rameshwar Das, Ghanshyam Das, and Braj Mohan – who went on to build on their father’s legacy and establish themselves as successful industrialists. Baldev Das retired from business in 1920 and devoted himself to philanthropic activities and religious studies. He was awarded the title of Raibahadur in 1917 and was made “Raja” by the Orissa and Bihar governments in 1925. He was also awarded D. Litt. by Banaras Hindu University for his contributions to society.
Legacy and Impact
Baldev Das Birla’s legacy is still felt in the business and philanthropic landscape of India. His entrepreneurial spirit, business acumen, and commitment to philanthropy continue to inspire generations of entrepreneurs and philanthropists in India. The Birla family, which is one of the wealthiest families in India, has also made significant contributions to education, healthcare, and other social causes.
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Baldeo Das Birla Children – G D Birla, J K Birla, R D Birla & B M Birla | Birla Family Tree
Ghanshyam Das Birla
Born – 10 April, 1894
G.D. Birla founded the Birla Bros Limited jute mill in 1919 against stiff resistance from the British and Scottish merchants. In 1926, he was elected to the Central Legislative Assembly.
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Jugal Kishore Birla
Born – 1883
Birla Brothers Limited was run by Jugal Kishore Birla and G.D. Birla. He was an activist for Hinduism and a philanthropist.
Rameshwar Das Birla
Born – 1892
Baldeo Das Birla’s second son, he established many educational and hospital organizations in Kolkata, Mumbai and Pilani.
Baldeo Das Birla Grandchildren – M P Birla, Gajanan Birla, Lakshmi Niwas Birla, Krishna Kumar Birla, Basant Kumar Birla & G P Birla
– Madhav Prasad Birla
Born – 1918
Married – Priyamvada Devi
M.P. Birla established companies such as Indian Smelting, Birla Corp., Vindhya Telelinks, Hindustan Gum and Chemicals, Universal Cables, and Digvijay Woollen Mills.
– Gajanan Birla
– Lakshmi Niwas Birla
He founded the Birla High School in Kolkata.
– Krishna Kumar Birla
Born – 1918
Married – Manorama Devi
He was chairman of the ZuariChambal company group. He was instrumental in the development of India’s sugar industry. He was also the chairman of Zuari-Chambal-Paradeep, a fertilizer conglomerate. He was the father of Shobhana Bhattia, Jyoti Podar, and Nandini Nopany.
– Basant Kumar Birla
Born – 1921
Married – Sarala Biyani
He is currently the chairman of the BK Birla Institute of Engineering and Technology and of the Krishnarpan Charity Trust.
– Ganga Prasad Birla
Born – 1922
Married – Nirmala
G.P. Birla’s companies are Nigeria Engineering Works and Hindustan Motors.
Baldeo Das Birla Great Grandchildren | Birla Family Tree
1. Ashok Birla
2. Sudarshan Birla
3. Aditya Vikram Birla
4. Chandra Kant Birla
5. Yashovardhan Birla
6. Sidharth Birla
7. Kumar Mangalam Birla
Kumar Mangalam Birla: Childhood and Early Education
Kumar Birla was born in Kolkata to parents hailing from Rajasthan, and he belongs to the fourth generation of the renowned Birla family. He was raised in a joint household in Mumbai alongside his younger sister Vasavadatta Birla, his parents Aditya Vikram Birla and Rajashree Birla, and his younger brother.
He pursued his secondary education at Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics, and his undergraduate studies at H.R. College of Commerce and Economics, both of which are affiliated with the University of Mumbai. Following that, he completed his education at the London Business School and received a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of London in 1992. He is also an honorary fellow at LBS, and he obtained his chartered accountant degree (ICAI) from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
Kumar Mangalam Birla: Career
At the young age of 28, Birla succeeded his late father Aditya Vikram Birla as chairman of the Aditya Birla Group in 1995, after his father’s unfortunate demise the previous year. During his tenure as the board of directors’ chairman, the company’s annual turnover has soared from $2 billion in 1995 to $45 billion in 2021. The conglomerate now has a presence in 36 countries spanning across six continents, and over fifty percent of its revenue comes from operations in foreign nations.
Kumar Mangalam Birla (Source: Fortuneindia)
Kumar Mangalam Birla Family Net Worth
Kumar Birla, a fourth generation Birla, has a net worth of $13.2 Billion as of September 2020. He ranks at #9 on India’s Richest list.
Birla Family: Philanthropy
Philanthropy on the part of the Birla family dates back to the 1880s, when they contributed more than one hundred thousand rupees to the establishment of goshalas (protective shelters for cows) in Kolkata. Because to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya’s influence, the Birla family became supporters of education around the turn of the twentieth century.
Together with Jamnalal Bajaj, they contributed to charitable organizations that promoted educational causes in Kolkata and Mumbai. The family opened up the first high school in Pilani in 1918; it is still in operation today under the name birla school pilani and is considered to be one of the oldest schools in India.
Birla Education Trust (BET), which later developed into BITS Pilani and currently has additional campuses in Hyderabad, Goa, and Dubai, is responsible for running all six of the organization’s institutions. Additionally, a Sanskrit library was established at Benares, in addition to a library in Kolkata. It is well recognized for its financial support of India’s liberation struggle as well as its construction of temples (for an example, see the Birla Temple) in several of the most important cities in India.
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