ADITYA VIKRAM BIRLA

Leader: - Aditya Vikram Birla

Birth: - 14th Nov, 1944
Death: - 1st Oct, 1995
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION:-

Aditya Birla completed his

formal education, graduating in science from St Xavier's College,
Calcutta, and then earning a degree in chemical engineering from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston.
FAMILY BACKGROUND:Aditya Vikram Birla was an Indian
industrialist. Born into one of the largest business families of India. His
grandfather Ghanshyam Das Birla was an associate of Mahatma
Gandhi and had built his fortune on aluminium prospecting and as the
manufacturer of the Ambassador car.
He was married to Rajashri and had a daughter Vasavadatta and a
son Kumar Mangalam.
His father B.K Birla.
HIS ACHIEVEMENTS:He was one of the first Indian industrialists to expand abroad,
setting up plants in South East Asia, Philippines and Egypt, among
other places.
Aditya Vikram Birla, the chairman of the $2.3-billion Birla Group and an
advocate of expanding Indian economic activity abroad.
After returning to India in 1965, Birla struck out on his own in
textiles. His Eastern Spinning Mills in Kolkata quickly became a
success, putting the group's sinking rayon and textile business back on
track. He was then placed in charge of the corporation's expansion into
the oil sector.
In 1969, Birla set up Indo-Thai Synthetics Company Ltd, the
group's first overseas company. In 1973, he established P.T. Elegant
Textiles to manufacture spun yarn. It marked the group's first venture
in Indonesia. In 1974 Thai Rayon, the Group's Viscose Rayon Staple
Fibre business was incorporated in Thailand. In 1975 The Indo Phil
Group of companies, the first Indo-Filipino joint venture commenced
production of spun yarn. In 1977 Pan Century Edible Oils was

incorporated in Malaysia, going on to become the world's largest

single-location palm oil refinery. In 1978 Thai Carbon Black, the
Group's first carbon black company was incorporated in Thailand. In
1982 P.T Indo Bharat Rayon was established, the first producer of
Viscose Staple Fibre in Indonesia
Under his leadership the companies became the largest producer
of Viscose staple fibre and refiner of palm oil. With Aditya Vikram Birla
as the chairman, the Birla group of companies saw success in the
expansion of Hindustan Gas and in the conversion of the sick company
Indo-Gulf Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd, which was suffering from a
liquidity crisis and poor management, into a blue-chip company.
Mr. Aditya Birla was conferred the "Management Man of the Year
Award" in 1992, by the Bombay Management Association, the premier
management association in the country. In a hard-hitting forwardlooking speech, he identified the challenges which corporate India and
the government needed to grapple with. Even today, his words ring
true.
Aditya Birla expanded the Birla Empire making it one of India's
largest business conglomerates and himself becoming one of India's
foremost businessmen.
His overseas joint industrial ventures in Thailand, Indonesia, the
Philippines and
Malaysia reaped immense gains, being the largest multinational
company set up by a resident Indian industrialist. He has even held the
post of director of the Central Bank of India and Air India.
With its dominion spreading across India and south-east Asia,
Aditya Birla's industries were involved in manufacturing of textiles,
chemicals, engineering goods, fertilizers, and palm oil. Amongst his
manufacturing houses in India, Hindalco (being amongst the largest
low-cost producers of aluminium in the world) and Grasim (the largest
producer of viscose staple fibre), shine greatly, reflecting the sheer
brilliance of this industrial wizard. A thoroughbred businessman and
industrialist, Aditya Birla's determination and innovative theories
carved a niche for India, putting her on the world map amongst the
world's largest companies. He has also been instrumental with his
advice on market reform policies to the Indian Government and is well
known for his inspirational speeches that not only motivated but
proved effective as well.
Beginning with the Hindalco gas 1964, which father B.K Birla gave
to 21 years Aditya to run, to his first new venture, eastern spinning

mills and industries Limited. He brought his own indelible stamp to

bear on these operations, even at young age he displayed exemplary
qualities of leadership, hard work and innovation.
Mr. Aditya Birla, globalization meant more than just geographic
reach. He believed that a business could be global even whilst being
based in India.
He executed mega project well within a stipulated budget and
timeframe, can be attributed to sharp focus on system and processes
an aspect that is given prime importance even today, the parta system
introduced by Birla and followed by the group.
Business Leaders across the spectrum were impressed by Aditya
Birlas acumen. Still only in his late 40s he was inducted into the board
of prestigious institution and corporate such as IL&FS, Bajaj Auto and
ICICI. He was honorary consult general of the republic of Philippines in
Mumbai and was on the board of governor of the Asian institute of
management. He spread the lesson, We are not afraid of competition,
let competition be afraid of us.
A Story of Visionary: Mr. Aditya Vikram Birla was a visionary who left an indelible
imprint on the nation & on the corporate landscape. The enormous
direct contribution made by him to business, the economy & the
community can never be underscored. And this was recognized in his
life time & in subsequent years as well.
Our leaders of national stature have paid glowing tributes to his
vision, his innovative ideas & his ability to bring these to fruition. Our
Honorable Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi,
President of Congress Working Committee, Mr. K.R. Narayanan, former
President of India &
Dr. Manmohan Singh, former Union
Finance Minister.
Dr. Manmohan Singh states that Aditya Birla was a great visionary
who himself set out a bold, uncharted path that proved that Indian
Business men are second to none when it comes to creativity &
adventure.
Mr. Birlas Contribution to the Nation: After earning the degree in chemical engineering from
Massachusetts institute of technology, USA Mr. Birla return to India,
barely 21 year old even as he was given a Birla company to run, he
had an all embracing vision: to strike out on his own and grow new line

of business in India and overseas. He dreamt of setting up a global

business empire-the first Indian to do so.
Not surprisingly, under his dynamic leadership, the group
intensified its presence in the core sectors, by the 1980s his
companies forged ahead in the key sector of textile, cement,
aluminum, chemicals, fertilizers, fibre, financial services, sponge iron,
software and petro refinery. He was instrumental for building up much
of the nations commodity business.
Even as his companies, Grasim, hindalco, Indian rayon, and indo
gulf fertilizers, grew manifold, he helped spawn countless ancillary
industries. While his companies employed over 70,000 people, he
generated indirect employment for more than 2 lakh people. His
companies contributed significantly to the nations prosperity,
refurbishing the foreign exchange reserve and earning respect for the
Made-in-India quality stamp.
AWARDS: Outstanding young person award by the Bombay metropolitan
Jaycees in 1978.
Outstanding citizen award by the north Bombay Jaycees in 1984
Man of the year by the Amravati chamber of commerce and industry
in 1985
Giants international award in the field of business and industry in
1986
A function organized by the Madras Management Association to
confer upon Mr.
Aditya Birla "The Business Leadership Award for 1990", he voiced his
views, lacing them with his experiences of Indian management and the
present business environment.
Mr. Aditya Birla was conferred the "Management Man of the Year
Award" in
1992, by the Bombay Management Association, the premier
management association in the country.
Rashtra bhushan award by FIE foundation in 1992
Aditya was himself an accomplished artist, in memor of him, the
Aditya Vikram
Birla Kalashikar Puraskar is awarded to painters and sculptors.
Platinum jubilee rotary award for contribution to industry by rotary
club of

Calcutta 1994
Vocational excellence award by the rotary international (district
3140) in January
1995
Lifetime achievement award posthumously by the all India
association of industries in January 1996
Award for the outstanding contribution to the phenomenal growth of
the Indian industry posthumously at the 23rd national management
convention on 13th
September 1996 at the Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai by the all India
management association.
Melvin Jones fellow award for dedicated humanitarian services by the
lion club
International foundation.
Paul Harris fellow award by the rotary foundation of rotary
international
LIST OF PRODUCTS UNDER ADITYA VIKRAM BIRLA GROUP:HINDALCO PRODUCTS
Everlast aluminium roofing sheets
Freshwrapp aluminium foil
Freshpakk semi-rigid containers
Permashield waterproofing
Aluminium foil
Aura alloy wheels
Hindalco extrusions
Birla Copper
Birla Gold
Birla Silver
CEMENT PRODUCT
Birla Super
UltraTech Cement (formerly Birla Plus)
Birla Ready Mix
Birla White
UltraTech cement
TEXTILES
Grasim

It has a presence in textiles and retail distribution. A pure play in

cement- its presence is now spread across Grasim, UltraTech Cement,
Shri Digvijay Cement and Narmada Cement- that could attract greater
investor interest is likely to be the trigger. Grasim also has a presence
in sponge iron, viscose staple fibre and chemicals businesses that will
dovetail well with the cash generators of Aditya Birla Nuvo they share
attributes such as robust cash flows that are far in excess of what is
required to bankroll growth, and limited opportunities.
Ice Touch
Uncrushables
Purista
Clean Fab
Thai Acrylic Fibre
Texlan

TELECOM
Idea
Putting India on the World Map: A formidable force in Indian industry, Mr. Aditya Birla dared to
dream of setting up a global business empire at the age of 24. He was
the first to put Indian business on the world map, as far back as 1969,
long before globalization became a buzzword in India.
In the then vibrant and free market South East Asian countries, he
ventured to set up world-class production bases. He had foreseen the
winds of change and staked the future of his business on a
competitive, free market driven economy order. He put Indian business
on the globe, 22 years before economic liberalization was formally
introduced by the former Prime Minister, Mr. Narasimha Rao and the
former Union Finance Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh. He set up 19
companies outside India, in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the
Philippines and Egypt.
Interestingly, for Mr. Aditya Birla, globalization meant more than
just geographic reach. He believed that a business could be global
even whilst being based in India. Therefore, back in his home-territory,
he drove single-mindedly to put together the building blocks to make
our Indian business a global force.
Under his stewardship, his companies rose to be the world's
largest producer of viscose staple fibre, the largest refiner of palm oil,
the third-largest producer of insulators and the sixth-largest producer

of carbon black. In India, they attained the status of the largest single
producer of viscose filament yarn, apart from being a producer of
cement, grey cement and rayon grade pulp. The Group is also the
largest producer of aluminium in the private sector, the lowest first
cost producers in the world and the only producer of linen in the textile
industry in India.
At the time of his untimely demise in 1995, the Group's revenues
crossed Rs.8,000 Crore globally, with assets of over Rs.9,000 Crore,
comprising of 55 benchmark quality plants, an employee strength of
75,000 and a shareholder community of 600,000.
Most importantly, his companies earned respect and admiration of
the people, as one of India's finest business houses, and the first
Indian international Group globally. Through this outstanding record of
enterprise, he helped create enormous wealth for the nation, and
respect for Indian entrepreneurship in South East Asia. In his time, his
success was unmatched by any other industrialist in India.
That India attains respectable rank among the developed nations,
was a dream he forever cherished. He was proud of India and took
equal pride in being an Indian.
Beyond Business: Mr. Birla was on the committee of the Festival of India, the
government of India Cultural Exchange Programme held in the USA &
France in 1985. As a member of Planetarium Committee, the NEHRU
Centre, he contributed significantly to generating interest among the
countrys youth in science related matters.
Reaching Out of Society: He was a man of myriad qualities. A painter, a singer, a patron of
the arts & pilot, he was naturalist who took delight in natures majesty
& simplicity. To provide a forum for the expression of creativity of arena
of performing arts & culture, Mr. Aditya Birla founded the Sangit Kala
Kendra in 1973. Luminaries such as Amjad Ali Khan, Ustad Bismillah
Khan, etc. such as few have performed under this banner.
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