Kolkata, August 30
Noted industrialist Krishna Kumar Birla (90), who had established one of India’s biggest business conglomerates, died at 7.30 am at his residence following general deterioration of health due to age-related diseases. He had been ailing for the last two weeks, family members said.
He was former Rajya Sabha member for three terms from 1984 to 2002. The Chairman of Hindustan Times and several Birla group of industries is survived by three daughters Nandini Nupani, Shobhana Bhartia, and Jyoti
Poddar.
The Birla business empire spanned key industries like sugar, fertilisers, chemicals, heavy engineering, textiles, shipping and newspaper.
Family sources said Mumbai-based Kumar Mangalam Birla, son of Aditya Birla, is likely to arrive by a chartered flight.
B K Birla, brother of K K Birla, who stays at Birla Park, was present at the time of death as were the three daughters and sons-in-law.
Son of Ghanshyam Das Birla, K K Birla was born in Pilani, Rajasthan on November 11, 1918. He was a respected parliamentarian, philanthropist and scholar.
In 1961, he was elected Sheriff of Calcutta and in 1997 a D.Litt was conferred on him by Pondicherry University. He headed a number of Chambers of Commerce such as Indian Sugar Mills Association, Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
— PTI
