Brajlal Biyani – Independent activist and writer

Brajlal Biyani was an independence activist, freedom fighter and writer who lived in Vidarbha region during the period, 1896–1968. He was also a politician who was a member of first state assembly of Maharashtra as well as legislator of Bombay State in 1957 elections from Mangrulpir. He was related to Birla family after his daughter Sarla Birla married businessman Ghanshyam Das Birla’s son Basant Kumar Birla.

Brajlal Biyani was born in Rajasthan. Later the family settled in Akola, Maharashtra. After that he got active in freedom struggle movement as well as politics. He has been a part of Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920 and Salt Satyagraha in 1930, followed by Jungle Satyagraha and protests against Nizam and is known as an independence activist. After independence he joined state politics, and served as a legislator multiple times. He served as Finance Minister of then Madhya Pradesh State in the post-independent era and also as a legislator from Akola. After the formation of states, he has served as MLA of Maharashtra.

Brajlal Biyani – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. He came under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi while he was during his graduation at Nagpur.

2. He took up regional leadership in freedom struggle movements of 1930, 1932, 1940 and 1942.

3. Brijlal Biyani Science College at Amravati is named after him.

4. As his daughter Sarla Birla, well-known educationalist and businesswoman got married to industrialist, Basant Kumar Birla, he got related to the famous Birla business family.

5. Aditya Vikram Birla is his grandson and Kumar Mangalam Birla is his great-grandson. Kumar Mangalam Birla’s children, Ananya Birla – a singer and Aryaman Birla – a cricketer are members of Birla family of present generation.

6. The marriage of his daughter Sarla was solemnised by Mahatma Gandhi.