A man’s true worth is only known when he is gone. Birla was also a man whose real worth dawned on us when he was no more around. His critics and detractors must at least now be fair enough to late G.D. Birla and admit that he was a man of exceptional business talent who contributed a lot to the industrial progress of the country and to some extent financed the freedom movement of India.
The news of Birla’s death was carried to the world by radio and television. The people had started paying their tributes. From India and abroad famous and important people started to send condolence messages. Then President Giani Zail Singh contacted the Birla family personally and tried to console the bereaved family. Indira Gandhi was in Copenhagen. She, at once spoke to the press admitting India had lost a great man who was a very tall figure amongst Indians. British P.M. Margret Thatcher said, ‘Birla was one of the great sons of India’. The former P.M. Harold Macmillan and James Callaghan also expressed grief and their sympathies to Birlas. Chambers of Commerce and other institutions which G.D. Birla had been associated with expressed shock and grief. His business associates called him a soldier of Karma who discharged his responsibilities without hoping for any honour.
Various organisations, individuals and sections of people paid tributes and proved Birla was not just a business name but a symbol of success and iconic figure when the masses adored and envied. He has served many fields and his personality was multi-dimensional.
Following are the some of the tributes paid to Ghanshyam Das Birla :
❑ Mumbai ‘Commerce’ newspaper wrote—’On the economic scenario of India Birla kept the stamp of his dedicated personality imprinted for seven decades.’
❑ Financial Express—’Birla besides being the architect of Indian industrial world was the man who gave new direction to Indian economy.’
❑ Economic Times—’He was such a spokesman of Indian industrial world who linked the progress of the nation to economy. With his farsightedness the industrial empire he created was something only he could do.’
❑ The Times of India—’Birla was one of the founders of Indian industrial world. He was the head of the richest family of India. In the context of religion, arts, culture, education and temples his name would be used as synonym.’
❑ Times London—’He had been the leading figure of Indian business and industry and he was Gandhi’s financial helper in the freedom struggle as well.’
❑ ‘Sunday Magazine’ of London printed Birla’s picture on front page and according to British culture and tradition what it wrote was the highest tribute. It wrote—’The death of the Emperor of Indian Industrial World.’
In the business world G.D. Birla had entered even before becoming a teenager. He was the one who in real terms ushered Birla family into industry. The family he was born in was deeply traditional. The family values ingrained in him during his childhood remained through his life. His business endeavours did not affect values. They remained as constants of his life through time, space and circumstances.
Writer in Iirla
A writer lived in Ghanshyam Das Birla. It may read strange but that is a fact. He wrote several books. His books timewise were as the following :
❑ Rupaye Ki Kahani—1928
❑ Desh-Videsh Main—1931
❑ Diary Ke Pannay—1938
❑ Roop aur Swaroop—1938
❑ Bapu—1940
❑ Rekhachitra—1941
❑ Shri Jamnalalji (1942)
❑ Bhartiya Aarthik Vikas Ki Yojna—1944
❑ Karzdar Se Sahukar—1945
❑ Mahatma Gandhi Ki Chhanva Talay—1953
❑ Ve Din—1962
❑ Bapu—Ek Anupam Saath (Four Parts)—1977
❑ Krishan Bande Jagatguru—1978
In 1957 Birla was honoured with Padma Vibhushana. In 1959 Rajasthan University conferred on him the honorary degree of ‘Doctor of Literature’. In 1967 B.H.U. conferred on him ‘Doctorate of Law’.
