Krishna Kumar Birla – Industrialist and son of business typhoon Ghanshyam Das Birla
Dr. Krishna Kumar Birla (1918 – 2008) was an industrialist belonging to fourth generation of Birla industrialist family. He was the son of Padma Vibhushan Ghanshyam Das Birla, who was a prominent business figure of 20th century also known for his close association with M. K. Gandhi. His brother Basant Kumar Birla was also a prominent industrialist, under whom the business lineage of the Birla family was continued through Aditya Vikram Birla and Kumar Mangalam Birla. Krishna served as the chairman of the Hindustan Times and also established the K.K. Birla Foundation to promote Hindi literature.
Krishna Kumar Birla or simply K. K. Birla was an industrialist born as the son of G. D. Birla and his second wife Mahadevi Birla. He is the grandson of Baldeo Das Birla and great-grandson of Shiv Narain Birla. As his son was born on the auspicious Gopashtami day associated with Lord Krishna, he was given the name Krishna, and his birthday was celebrated by his parents as per Hindu calendar during his early years, which keeps changing every year. His birth date of 12 October was only used for official purposes and years later marked as his private birthday celebration. His father married his mother after the decease of his first wife, and Krishna has one step-brother.
Krishna Kumar Birla followed his father’s legacy and got into family business. He was associated with media field, apart from serving as a board member in many organizations. He started K.K. Birla Foundation to promote Hindi literature. He served as the chairman of Hindustan Times. He shared a unique bond with his wife Manorama Devi, and passed away exactly one month after her death in July 2008. He was so much shocked by her death that he was bedridden. Their marriage lasted for 67 long years. After his death, most of his companies were taken over by his daughters and son-in-laws.
Dr. Krishna Kumar Birla – Some interesting and less-known facts
1. Seth Shobharam, grandson of Seth Bhudharmal, who lived in the early 19th century, was the first one from Birla family who got into trade and business. He was a local trader. It was his son, Seth Shiv Narayana in the second half of 19th century who ventured business outside their hometown Pilani, now a part of Rajasthan. Birla industrial family flourished since then.
2. His great-grandfather, Shiv Narayana Birla, the first member of illustrious Birla family had money lending business who built Birla Haveli. He got into cotton business, which flourished in the second half of 1950s. The family firm was initially known as Baldeodas Jugalkishore, which was renamed as Birla Brothers Limited in the year 1918.
3. His grandfather Baldeodas Birla was an adopted member to the Birla family, who inherited family property and business and later expanded business plans.
4. He had three daughters and no sons, and supported his daughters to join family business.
5. His family was against the tradition to give opportunity to female members in family tradition. He shocked everyone when he announced his daughter Shobhana Bhartia’s entry to media wing of Birla group. A recipient of Padma Shri, she is now regarded as a veteran of Indian media field.
6. Sarla Birla and Rajashree Birla are other prominent female members of Birla family who got married to his brother Basant Kumar Birla and his nephew Aditya Vikram Birla respectively.
7. His grandson Shamit Bhartia (son of Shobhana Bhartia) is married to granddaughter of Dhirubhai Ambani. Thus it links two great illustrious business families of India.
8. Aditya Vikram Birla and CK Birla are his nephews while Kumar Mangalam Birla is his grand-nephew. Kumar Mangalam Birla’s son Aryaman Birla is a cricketer, and one of the two daughters, Ananya Birla is a pop singer.
9. Madhav Prasad Birla and Ganga Prasad Birla are his cousins, while Jugal Kishore Birla and Rameshwar Das Birla are his paternal uncles.
10. Mahatma Gandhi was staying in his home at the time of his assassination in 1948. He has been staying at Birla house for his last three months.
11. Krishna Kumar Birla has been associated with Indian National Congress and joined the party officially in 1984.
12. He was conferred Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) by Pondicherry University in 1991.
13. He supported economic reforms of 1991.
14. He played bridge, and also served as the president of the Bridge Federation of India.
15. K. K. Birla Lane in New Delhi has been named after him.
Great information