Longest Running Indian Entrepreneurial Dynasties
The Birla ‘Kingdom’
Founder: Ghanshyam Das Birla
Inheritor: Kumar Mangalam Birla
Active: 155 years
Investment: 50 lakhs in 1919 forming Birla Brothers limited
Revenue: US$ 35 billion (2011)
One of the oldest family businesses in India, Birla group has been climbing the success ladders since 1857. Ghanshyam Das Birla was one of the most prominent businessmen and was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. The Birla brothers limited was founded with an investment of 50 lakhs and now the ‘zero’ digit behind has increased quickly to US$ 35 billion. It also runs 45 schools and 18 hospitals reaching out to 7 million people in 3,700 villages through Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development. Birla group has its operations in - Metals, cements, textiles, chemicals, agribusiness, carbon black, mining, wind power, insulators, telecommunications, financial services, information technology, retail and trading solutions.
