Veteran industrialist GP Birla passes away

GP Birla,a doyen of Indian industry,passed away after a brief illness here late Friday night at the age of 86. One of the senior-most members of the Birla clan,GP Birla was younger to his cousin BK Birla,who is now 90. In a letter to his wife Nirmala Birla,President Pratibha Patil said the nation has lost an illustrious personality in the passing away of the industrialist.

“Shri GP Birla was an industrialist whose contribution to the establishment of various industrial and business enterprises helped in national development as well as created employment opportunities for thousands of our people,” she said.

Industry body Assocham also condoled his death. “Indian industry has lost a great and seasoned industrialist,” Assocham president Swati Piramal said.

GP Birla had passed on the businesses to his only son CK Birla,who is now heading group companies such as Hindustan Motors,Orient Industries and Birla Technical Services. Late Braj Mohan Birla,father of GP Birla,founded the GP-CK Birla group,which has a wide range of interests.