By SUNIL Sonkar
Kolkata, March 06 — Industrialist GP Birla took his last breath in Kolkata on Friday night after a brief period of illness, leaving wife Nirmala, son CK Birla and daughter Lekha Poddar. GP Birla was 87.
He was part of the illustrious Birla clan, headed GP-C.K. Birla Group. The group has business interests across the four continents spanning across sectors such as automobiles, earthmoving and power transmission equipment, bearings, heavy machinery, paper, cement, information technology, building products, electrical fans, vegetable oils, consumer durables, soap and detergents, engineering and contracting for industrial and infrastructure projects and emerging areas like oil and gas, geomatics and environment.
The Birla group has Hindustan Motors units in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu and it is their flagship company with global revenues in excess of $1.2 billion.
Late Braj Mohan Birla established the GP-CK Birla Group. After this, GP Birla carried forward the glorious legacy.
According to Birla House sources in Kolkata, till about a week back GP Birla was very active and despite his old age, he used to come to his office regularly. The mantle of his empire has passed on to his son, Chandrakant Birla, now.
The last rites of Birla would be performed on Saturday in Kolkata.
May his soul rest in peace.He was a nice Gentleman and a good soul.His flagship company Hindustan Motors’ Ambassador Car will always be remembered as a very sturdy and easy car suitable for Indian roads.