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G. D. Birla

(1894 – 1983) – (Rajasthan)

Ghanshyam Das Birla (Aged 89) was born on 10 April 1894 in Pilani town, Jhunjhunu district, which was then a part of the Indian state of Rajputana. He belonged to the Maheshwari Marwari community, and his father was Raja Baldevdas Birla, who went to Bombay in 1884 in search of new avenues of trade.

After inheriting the family business, GD Birla diversified it into other areas. In 1918, he established Birla Jute Mills, which faced opposition from established European merchants favored by the biased policies of the British government over local Bengali merchants. Despite the obstacles posed by British and Scottish merchants, Birla persevered and his business flourished during World War I when supply problems arose throughout the British Empire.

He became the founding president of Harijan Sevak Sangh in Delhi in 1932, which was founded by Mahatma Gandhi. In the 1940s, Birla expanded into the automobile sector and established Hindustan Motors. During the Quit India Movement of 1942, Birla came up with the idea of organizing a commercial bank with Indian capital and management, which led to the incorporation of United Commercial Bank Limited in Kolkata in 1943. It is now known as UCO Bank and is one of the oldest and major commercial banks in India.

Birla was a close associate and a steady supporter of Mahatma Gandhi, whom he met for the first time in 1916. Gandhi even stayed at Birla’s home in New Delhi during the last four months of his life. Birla passed away on 11 June 1983.