Doyen of Indian industry KK Babu

Krishna Kumar Birla, popularly known as KK Babu, was a builder of modern institutions, ranging from industry to education, one of the famous symbols of which is the BITS in Pilani, Rajasthan.

Krishna Kumar Birla, popularly known as K K Babu, was a builder of modern institutions, ranging from industry to education, one of the famous symbols of which is the Birla Institute of Technology and Science in Pilani Rajasthan, his birthplace.

HT Image

Born on November 11, 1918, Birla called it a historic day (his birthday) in his autobiography, "Brushes With History", as agreement of armistice for World War I was signed on that day.

K K Birla inherited a legacy in which the creation of wealth, philanthropy and political leadership was all regarded as part of nation building.

Spiritual strength and moral values were regarded part of KK Birla's personal credo. He built a Radha-Krishna Temple (popularly known as Birla Temple) here and many other institutions countrywide that enriched the fabric of Indian society.

He was responsible for expanding the famous Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, with extension of its campuses in Dubai, Goa and Hyderabad.

He was the chairperson of the Hindustan Times Group and had been a member of the Rajya Sabha for a long time.

His wife Manorama Devi Birla died in Kolkata on July 29.