BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

BIRLA, SHRI KRISHNA KUMAR

Hindi Prabhakar (Hons. in Hindi), D.Litt.(Honoris Causa), I.N.C. (Rajasthan); s. of late Shri G.D. Birla; b. at Pilani,October 12, 1918; ed. at (i) Calcutta University, (ii) Delhi University and (iii) Punjab University ; m. Shrimati Manorama Devi, July 3, 1941.

Industrialist; Trustee,Birla Education Trust, which runs a number of schools and institutions at Pilani; was President, (i) Indian Sugar Mills Association, 1946-47, (ii) Indian Chambers of Commerce, Calcutta, 1963-64,(iii) Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI),1974-75 and (iv) Marwari Relief Society, Calcutta, one of the top most service societies of the country, 1965-67; Chairman, (i) Birla Institute of Technology and Science (a deemed University) and (ii) The Hindustan Times (a premier national daily) and a number of companies in the K.K.Birla Group such as Zuari Industries Ltd., Chambal Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd., Texmaco Ltd., Sutlej Industries Ltd., India Steam Ship Co.Ltd. and some sugar mills in U.P.and Bihar; was Chairman, Indo-Japan and also Indo-American Joint Councils of FICCI; was Director, (i) Central Board of State Bank of India and (ii) Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India for a number of years; was Sheriff of Calcutta, 1961; Permanent Invitee, Executive Committee and Steering Committee of FICCI and several other bodies; was Member, (i) National Railway Users' Consultative Committee , 1956-57, (ii) Central Advisory Council of Industries, 1959-67, (iii) Board of Trade (with Union Minister of Commerce as its Chairman), (iv) Council of Scientific and Industrial Research for a number of years, (v) National Integration Council (of which Prime Minister is the Chairman and all the Chief Ministers are Members), (vi) Advisory Committee on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, Ministry of Finance, (vii) Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (Constituted by the Government of Jammu & Kashmir) and (viii) National Committee for Celebration of 40 Years of India's Independence and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's Centenary; Member, (i) Committee on Finance and (ii) Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Finance; elected to the Rajya Sabha in April, 1984, re-elected in April, 1990 and again in April, 1996.

Clubs : Was President, (i) Bridge Federation of India for a number of years, (ii) All India Lawn Tennis Association, 1980-85 and (iii) Rajasthan Club, Calcutta; Member, (i) Calcutta Club and (ii) Gymkhana Club, New Delhi and a few others.

Accomplishsment in arts and science: was conferred Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) by Pondicherry University, 1997; established K.K.Birla Foundation which has instituted annual awards for excellence in Indian literature, scientific research, Indian philosophy, art and culture and sports; also set up K.K.Birla Academy in Delhi to undertake research on scientific, cultural and historical subjects.

Travels abroad : Travelled widely in Europe, Asia and United States.

Publications : Author of (i) Indira Gandhi-Reminiscences,(ii) Partner in Progress (selected speeches and writings) and (iii) Contribution of Krishna Kumar Birla to debates in the Rajya Sabha, 1984-90.

Special interest : India's industrial growth, India's economy, classical music and sports.

Favourite pastime and recreation : Reading, music and sports.
 
 

Permanent address : (i) Chandra Bhavan, Pilani (Rajasthan)-333031 (ii) Birla Building, 9/1, R.N. Mukherjee Road, Calcutta-700 001 and (iii) Birla House, 7, Tees January Marg, New Delhi-110 011.