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Fix broken anchor: #First Plan .281951-1956.29→most alike anchor Five-Year Plans of India#First Plan (1951–1956)

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{{short description|Family}}
{{redirect|Birlas}}
{{tone|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox family
|name=Birla Family
|crest=
|caption=
|image=
|origin=[[Pilani]], [[Jhunjhunu]], [[Rajasthan]], [[India]]
|region=Operating out of [[Delhi]], [[Mumbai]] and [[Kolkata]], [[India]]
|early_forms=
|members={{ublist|[[Baldeo Das Birla]]|[[Jugal Kishore Birla]]|[[Rameshwar Das Birla]]|[[Ghanshyam Das Birla]]|[[Madhav Prasad Birla]]|[[Krishna Kumar Birla]]|[[Basant Kumar Birla]]|[[Ganga Prasad Birla]]|[[Aditya Vikram Birla]]|[[CK Birla|Chandra Kant Birla]]|[[Kumar Mangalam Birla]]|[[Yashovardhan Birla]]|[[Aryaman Birla]]|[[Ananya Birla]]}}
|otherfamilies=
|distinctions=
|traditions=[[Hindu]]
|heirlooms=
|estate=
|meaning=
|footnotes=
}}
The '''Birla family''' is a family connected with the industrial and social history of India.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adityabirla.com |title=Archived copy |access-date=2011-11-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129203833/http://www.adityabirla.com/ |archive-date=2011-11-29 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ckbirlagroup.com|title=CK Birla Group - Birla Companies - Family - US$1.6 billion diversified conglomerate that has a history of enduring relationships with renowned global companies.|website=www.ckbirlagroup.com|access-date=9 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/yash-birla-s-business-comes-under-stress-114021701657_1.html|title=Yash Birla's business comes under stress|first=Dev Chatterjee & Sharleen|last=D'souza|date=17 February 2014|access-date=9 July 2017|via=Business Standard}}</ref>

==Foundations==
The Birla family origins lie with the [[Maheshwari]] caste of [[Vaishya]] traders but they were outcast from their traditional community in 1922 when one of their member, [[Rameshwar Das Birla]], was thought to have broken the caste marriage rules.<ref>{{cite book |title=Ashes of Immortality: Widow-Burning in India |first=Catherine |last=Weinberger-Thomas |publisher=University of Chicago Press |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-22688-568-1 |page=[https://archive.org/details/ashesofimmortali0000wein/page/177 177] |url=https://archive.org/details/ashesofimmortali0000wein |url-access=registration |edition=Translated |orig-year=1996}}</ref> They are [[Marwari people|Marwari]] and by convention merchants from Rajasthan are termed Marwari. The family originates from the town of [[Pilani]] in the [[Shekhawati]] region in North-east Rajasthan. They still maintain their residence in Pilani <ref>[https://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/house-of-history-116022601104_1.html House of history The Birla haveli in Pilani offers a glimpse into the beginnings of India's premier business family, Prakash Bhandari Business Standard, February 27, 2016]</ref> and run several educational institutions there, including the [[BITS, Pilani]].

===Shiv Narayan Birla===
In Pilani during the early 19th century lived Seth Shobharam, grandson of Seth Bhudharmal, a local tradesman of modest means.<ref>Maheshwari Jati Ka Itihas, Maheshwari History Office, Bhanpura, Birla, June 1940, p. 183–190</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pDlj7rwlDK0C&q=birla+daughters&pg=PT684|title=Brushes With History|first=Krishna Kumar|last=Birla|date=17 April 2009|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=9788184758511|access-date=9 July 2017|via=Google Books}}</ref> It was his son, Seth Shiv Narayana (1840–1909), who first ventured outside Pilani. At this time, Ahmedabad was the railhead which serviced trade from a large region of northwest India. Goods (mainly cotton) would be brought from the hinterland to the city and sent from there by train to Bombay for export to England and other countries. Several cotton ginning units were also set up in Ahmedabad, to clean the cotton before shipment to England. Shiv Narayana Birla was one of the early Indian traders to participate in this cotton trade. Later, Britain vigorously fostered the trade of opium with China and developed the cultivation of poppy in India. The [[Ratlam]]-[[Mandsaur]] region (not far from Ahemdabad) became prime poppy cropland due to suitable soil and climate. Shiv Narayan Birla and his adopted son, Baldeo Das Birla, made an enormous fortune by trading opium with China, and this formed the basis of the family's fortune.<ref name="auto"/> With growing wealth and increasing confidence, Shiv Narayana Birla moved up the value chain and began chartering cargo ships in partnership with other Marwadi tradesmen to trade opium with China, thus by-passing British middlemen. To facilitate this, he moved to Bombay in 1863.

===Baldev Das Birla===
Shiv Narayan Birla had one overwhelming sorrow in his life: he had no children. By the early 1880s, Shiv narayan (Narain) had passed on the baton of his business interests to his adopted son, Baldev Das Birla, established Shivnarayan Baldevdas, a trading house based in Bombay. His son, Baldev Das Birla moved to Calcutta set up Baldevdas Jugalkishor in 1887.
Baldeo Das was succeeded by four sons <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qhe3-G5aBkg|title=The story of the Birla empire by Talveen Singh- Part I|last=Aditya Birla Group|date=31 May 2011|access-date=9 July 2017|via=YouTube}}</ref>– Jugal Kishore, Rameshwar Das, [[Ghanshyam Das Birla|Ghanshyam Das]] and Braj Mohan.<ref>[http://www.icmrindia.org/casestudies/catalogue/Business%20Strategy3/BSTA034.htm The Birla Family Crisis - Case Studies, Case Study in Business, Management|Case Studies] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714221045/http://www.icmrindia.org/casestudies/catalogue/Business%20Strategy3/BSTA034.htm |date=July 14, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/battle-for-m.p.-birla-fortune-icai-indicts-lodhas/1/175181.html|title=Battle for Billions: Birlas vs Lodhas|access-date=9 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/What-keeps-the-Marwaris-thriving/articleshow/35380786.cms|title=What keeps the Marwaris thriving? - Times of India|access-date=9 July 2017}}</ref>

Baldev Das was awarded the Raibahadur title in 1917. In 1920 he retired from business and started living in Banaras pursuing religious studies. In 1925 he was awarded the title of "Raja" by the government of Bihar and Orissa.<ref>Industrial Entrepreneurship of Shekhawati Marwaris, D.K. Taknet, Kumar Prakashan, Jaipur, 1987, p. 41</ref> He was awarded D. Litt. by Banaras Hindu University.

A simplified family tree is given below. It does not include daughters <ref>[https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/the-big-story/story/20120305-battle-for-m.p.-birla-fortune-icai-indicts-lodhas-757506-2012-02-25 Battle for Billions: Birlas vs Lodhas, Shafi Rahman, India Today, February 25, 2012]</ref> or children who are young (or who died young). Lakshmi Nivas Birla was technically adapted by his uncle Jugal Kishor Birla. As has been noted in the press, some of the branches have been more successful than others. <ref>[https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20040802-gd-brilas-will-donate-wealth-outsider-rs-lodha-shocking-family-members-birla-house-789610-2004-08-02 Birlas heave sigh of relief, but are in battle gear, Shankkar Aiyar, India Today, August 2, 2004]</ref> The GD-Basant Kumar-Aditya Vikarm-Kumar Mangalam Birla branch has performed the best, with a group turnover of Rs. 29,000 Crore in 2004. At the other end is Yashovardhan Birla, who has struggled.<ref>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/yash-birla-named-wilful-defaulter-by-uco-bank/articleshow/69817782.cms Yashovardhan Birla named 'wilful defaulter", TOI, June 19, 2019]</ref>

===Ghanshyamdas Birla===
Ghanshyamdas Birla laid the foundation of his industrial empire by establishing GM Birla Company, trading in [[jute]], in 1911. The [[First World War]] began in 1914 greatly increasing the demand for [[gunny bags]]. During the war the Birla's worth is estimated to have risen from 2 million rupees to 8 million.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xcbBEHHI-90C|title=India's Industrialists|first1=Margaret|last1=Herdeck|first2=Gita|last2=Piramal|date=9 July 1985|publisher=Lynne Rienner Publishers|isbn=9780894104152|access-date=9 July 2017|via=Google Books}}</ref> In 1919, he became among the first group of Indian entrepreneurs to become owner of a Jute mill named [[Birla Corporation|Birla Jute]].<ref name="economictimes.indiatimes.com">{{cite web|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/corporate-dossier/family-spirit-and-frugality-help-the-birlas-keep-pace-with-changing-times/articleshow/41702203.cms?intenttarget=no|title='Family' spirit and frugality help the Birlas keep pace with changing times|date=6 September 2014|access-date=9 July 2017|via=The Economic Times}}</ref> In the next few years he acquired several cotton mills. He later started several sugar mills. The publication [[Hindustan Times]] was co-founded by GD Birla in 1924 and fully acquired by him in 1933. [[Hindustan Motors]] was started in 1942. After India's independence in 1947 he started [[Grasim]] (Gwalior Rayon Silk Manufacturing, 1948) and [[Hindalco]] (Hindustan Alum Company 1958) among others. He also generously led the grant on the request of [[Vallabhbhai Patel]] to lay the foundation of [[Birla Vishvakarma Mahavidyalaya]] in [[Anand, Gujarat|Anand]], [[Gujarat]].

Baldeo Das, as well his sons were among the key supporters of the [[swaraj]] movement led by Mahatma Gandhi, in addition to being dedicated Hindu activists. They were active supporters of the [[Banaras Hindu University]] founded by Pt. [[Madan Mohan Malaviya]] and were also financial supporters of activities initiated by Mahatma Gandhi.<ref>Business Legends, Gita Piramal, Penguin UK, Dec 1, 2010</ref> The landmark [[Laxminarayan Temple]] in Delhi was built by Jugal Kishore Birla and was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi and as asked by Mahatma, all Hindus, including [[harijan]]s were welcomed in this temple.

In the few decades before India's independence, Indian merchants, including the Birlas, made successful attempts to enter and acquire industries in India which were once dominated by [[Scot]]s from Britain.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1943/01/02/archives/british-investors-see-peril-in-india-managing-agents-fear-loss-of.html|title=British Investors See Peril in India – Managing Agents Fear Loss of Immense Profits on Half of Country's Industries – Natives Seek Business – Huge Sterling Credits Already Available to Buy Out the Foreign Companies|first=Herbert L.|last=Matthews|date=2 January 1943|page=5| work=New York Times|access-date=9 July 2017}}</ref> This became a part of Mahatma Gandhi's [[Swadeshi]] movement.

Birlas remained close to some of the leaders of India, like [[Sardar Patel]] after India's independence.<ref>Debajyoti Burman, Mystery of Birla House, Jugabani Hahitya Chakara, 3rd reprint 1951, P. 111</ref> When [[E. M. S. Namboodiripad]] became the chief minister of Kerala (1957–59), as a result of the first elected Marxist government anywhere, Birlas were invited to establish a pulp factory there.<ref>Phrases And Facts: About Kerala, Partha Choudhuri, Liberation, Vol. II, No. 3 (January 1969).</ref>

In recent past, the Birlas, as well as several other Indian industrialists have expanded overseas.
<ref>{{cite web|last=Piramal|first=Gita|url=http://www.india-seminar.com/1999/482/482%20piramal.htm|title= A crisis of leadership|date=October 1999|work=Family Business, a symposium on the role of the family in Indian business|access-date=9 July 2017}}</ref>

==Family Tree==
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:LowLevelEntityToPrint_ETNEW&Type=text/html&Locale=english-skin-custom&Path=ETM/2011/07/04&ID=Ar00600|title=In a First, a Daughter's Son Rises at Birla Abode|website=epaper.timesofindia.com|access-date=9 July 2017}}</ref>

{{chart top|width=100%}}
{{chart/start|align=center}}
{{chart| | | | | | | | | | | | SNB | |SNB=[[Shiv Narain Birla]]}}
{{chart| | | | | | | | | | | | |!|}}
{{chart| | | | | | | | | | | | BDB | |BDB=[[Baldeo Das Birla]]}}
{{chart| | | |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|^|-|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.|}}
{{chart| | | JK | | RD | | | | | | | | GD | | | | | | | | | ||||BM |JK=[[Jugal Kishore Birla]]|RD=[[Rameshwar Das Birla]]|GD=[[Ghanshyam Das Birla]]|BM=[[Braj Mohan Birla|Braj Mohan Birla]]}}
{{chart| | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |,|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|.| | | | | |||||!| }}
{{chart| | | | | Gj | | MP | | LN | | KK | | BK | y|SB|| |||GP | | |Gj=Gajanan|MP=[[Madhav Prasad Birla|Madhav Prasad Birla]]|LN=Lakshmi Niwas|KK=[[Krishna Kumar Birla|Krishna Kumar Birla]]|BK=[[Basant Kumar Birla|Basant Kumar Birla]]|SB=[[Sarala Birla]]|GP=[[Ganga Prasad Birla]]}}
{{chart| | | | | |!| | | | | | | |!| | | |! | | | || |! || | || |||!| }}
{{chart| | | | | Ak | | |
| | | Sd | | Sh| | | | AV |y|Rs | | |CK | |Ak=Ashok|Sd=Sudarshan|Sh=[[Shobhana Bhartia]]|AV=[[Aditya Vikram Birla]]|Rs=[[Rajashree Birla]]|CK=[[CK Birla]]}}
{{chart| | | | | |!| | | | | | | |!| | | | | | || | | | | !}}
{{chart| | | | |Yo | | | | | | Sh | | | | || | |||| KM | | |Yo=[[Yashovardhan Birla|Yashovardhan Birla]]|Sh=Siddharth|KM=[[Kumar Mangalam Birla]]}}
{{chart| | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||| |, | ^|.| | | | | | }}
{{chart| | | | | VB | | | | | | | ||||||| | ||Ar||An|VB=Vedant Birla|Ar=[[Aryaman Birla]]|An=[[Ananya Birla]]}}

{{chart/end}}
{{chart bottom}}

==Philanthropy==
[[File:Gandhi at the Laxminarayan Temple.jpg|thumbnail|right| [[Gandhi]] inaugurating the [[Laxminarayan Temple]], Delhi, 1938, with the Birla family (Jugalkishor, Rameshwardas, Ghanshyamdas in black caps, Baldevdas in turban]]

Birla philanthropy began in the 1880s, when the Birla family donated over 100,000 rupees for setting up goshalas (shelters for the protection of cows) in Kolkata. By early 1900, the Birla family began to support education, influenced by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. They supported educational charities in Kolkata and in Mumbai teaming up with [[Jamnalal Bajaj]]. In 1918, the family established the first high school in Pilani now name as birla school pilani it is the one of the oldest school in India. Now they have 6 schools run by birla education trust (BET), which evolved into [[BITS Pilani]], which now has branches in Hyderabad, Goa and Dubai. They also opened a Sanskrit library in Benares and a library in Kolkata.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livemint.com/Specials/XaccWERecP1ckwaJ4spx5O/Rajashree-Birla--Giving-is-in-fact-living.html|title=Rajashree Birla - Giving is in fact living|first=Rajashree|last=Birla|date=3 October 2014|access-date=9 July 2017}}</ref> It is well known for the financial support of Indian's freedom struggle and for building temples (see [[Birla Temple]]) in several major Indian cities.

The institutions founded by the Birlas include:

*[[Birla High School, Kolkata]]
*[[Birla Planetarium, Chennai|Birla Planetariums]]
* [[Guru Hanuman]] Akhara
* [[Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital]]
* [[Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani]]
* [[Birla Institute of Management Technology]] (BIMTECH), Greater Noida<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://bimtech.ac.in/about/the-legacy-the-birla-group/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-08-25 |archive-date=2018-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142705/https://www.bimtech.ac.in/about/the-legacy-the-birla-group/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Birla Global University]] Bhubaneswar, Odisha<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bgu.ac.in/|title=Birla Global University - Top University in BBSR, Odisha|website=www.bgu.ac.in|access-date=9 July 2017}}</ref>
* [[Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra]]
* [[Birla Vishwakarma Mahavidyalaya]]
* Birla Education Trust, Pilani
* [[Technological Institute of Textile & Sciences]], Bhiwani
* [[M. P. Birla Institute of Fundamental Research]]
* Rukmani Birla Modern High School, Jaipur
* [[Basant Kumar Birla#Philanthropy|BK Birla Group institutions]], [[Aditya Birla Group#Philanthropy|Aditya Birla Group Institutions]]
* [[K. K. Birla Foundation]], established in 1991 by Krishna Kumar Birla, gives the annual awards like [[Saraswati Samman]], [[Vyas Samman]] and [[G.D. Birla Award for Scientific Research]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Govind Mishra gets Saraswati Samman 2013 for novel 'Dhool Paudhon Par' |work= Daily News & Analysis| url = http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-govind-mishra-gets-saraswati-samman-2013-for-novel-dhool-paudhon-par-2020773 |date=22 September 2014 | access-date = 2014-09-23 }}</ref>
[[File:'Birla Brothers' Plaque at 'Dhosi Hill'.jpg|thumbnail|right| Birla Brothers' of Pilani, who established 'BITS, Pilani' also got constructed a Dam in the year 1944 or Vikrami Samvat 2000 on 'Dhosi Hill' to store rainy water for bathing of 'Pilgrims']]
* [[Aryaman Vikram Birla Institute of Learning]], [[Haldwani]], [[Uttarakhand]]

==Traditions==

In a letter, Ghanshaym Das offered this advice to Aditya (his grandson) when he was studying at MIT:
:“eat only vegetarian food, never drink alcohol or smoke, keep early hours, marry young, switch-off lights when leaving the room, cultivate regular habits, go for a walk everyday, keep in touch with the family, and above all, don’t be extravagant.”<ref>India's Industrialists, Volume 1,
Margaret Herdeck, Gita Piramal, Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1985 p. 97</ref>

GD Birla instructed his son Basant Kumar to 'never utilize wealth only for fun and frolic,' to 'spend the bare minimum on yourself,' and to deride 'worldly pleasures.'<ref name="economictimes.indiatimes.com"/>

This advice symbolized the ethic of the rising Marwari community, with restraint and austerity its defining attributes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gurcharandas.org/node/634|title=Marwari ethic and the spirit of Capitalism - Gurcharan Das|website=gurcharandas.org|access-date=9 July 2017}}</ref>

==Family ties==

Although the Birlas are perceived as a single entity, the different branches of the family are now financially independent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/08/26/stories/2004082602130600.htm|title=The Hindu Business Line : 'Mahatma was witness to Birla clan partition'|last=cakml|website=www.thehindubusinessline.com|access-date=9 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/after-months-of-tension-birlas-part-ways-amicably/1/337575.html|title=After months of tension, Birlas part ways amicably|access-date=9 July 2017}}</ref> However they have continued to maintain family relationships that go back to the times when "Birla Brothers" were an actual entity and Raja Baldevdas was still alive.

GD Birla's both wives died early because of tuberculosis (He remarried after the death of his first wife), a common affliction at that time. The families of his brothers [[Ghanshyam Das Birla#Family history|Brij Mohan and Rameshwar Das Birla helped in raising his children]]. When Yash Birla's parents died in a plane crash, Priyamvada Birla, ("Badi Ma") helped take care of him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/yash-gets-candid/article5875980.ece|title=Yash gets candid|access-date=9 July 2017}}</ref>

It is reported that Kumar Mangalam Birla had dipped into his own resources to help his beleaguered relative Yash with his financial issues with creditors and from Razia Sulthana in order to preserve the family name.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/family-values/238587|title=Family Values|access-date=9 July 2017}}</ref>

==="Tata-Birla" word pair===
For many decades the extreme wealth in India was associated with the [[Tata family|Tatas]] and Birlas. The words Tata-Birla were often used together.<ref>[http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/news/columns/below-the-belt/capitalists-of-the-world-unite-4323.html Capitalists of the world, unite! Mathrubhumi, October 9, 2008] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402100733/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/news/columns/below-the-belt/capitalists-of-the-world-unite-4323.html |date=April 2, 2015 }}</ref> They were distantly followed by [[Dalmia Group|Dalmia]]s (Dalmia-Sahu Jain group) for some time,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Pi5bAAAAMAAJ&q=Tata,+Birla,+Dalmia-Jain,+Hirachand,+B.+Mukherjee+and+M.+Chettiar|title=World Marxist Review|date=9 July 1970|publisher=Progress Books.|access-date=9 July 2017|via=Google Books}}</ref> however Tatas and Birlas have been able to sustain themselves as among the most prominent industrialists in India (for 1939-1997 data see<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X6knIE-47BAC&q=tata+birla+dalmia&pg=PA290|title=A History of Corporate Governance around the World: Family Business Groups to Professional Managers|first=Randall K.|last=Morck|date=1 November 2007|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=9780226536835|access-date=9 July 2017|via=Google Books}}</ref>) while others have declined.<ref>
[http://swaminomics.org/the-curse-of-too-many-sons/ The Curse of too-many Sons, Swaminathan S. Anklesaria Aiyar, Times of India, Nov 9, 1997]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessandeconomy.org/14122006/storyd.asp?sid=641&pageno=25|title=The Rise, Fall & Rise Of Indian Business Families|first=Website Developed by Ranjit Singh, Planman Media Pvt. Ltd., Delhi, India|last=9811747788|website=www.businessandeconomy.org|access-date=9 July 2017}}</ref>

A plan for development of India was developed by a group of industrialists in 1944, which was termed the Tata-Birla plan or the Bombay plan,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iLvyf6jQYqYC&q=Tata+Birla&pg=PA184|title=Tata Consultancy Services Story- and Beyond|first=Subramaniam|last=Ramadorai|date=9 July 2017|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=9780670084906|access-date=9 July 2017|via=Google Books}}</ref> which is said to have served as a blueprint for India's [[Five-Year Plans of India#First Plan (1951–1956)|first five-year plan]].

==References==
{{reflist}}{{Birla family}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Birla Family}}
[[Category:Birla family| ]]

Birla family - Revision history

Rockybhai3: Refined content and updated sections

>Cewbot: Fix broken anchor: #First Plan .281951-1956.29→most alike anchor Five-Year Plans of India#First Plan (1951–1956)