Dr. Krishna Kumar Birla

Our Founding Chairman

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Late Dr. Krishna Kumar Birla was a visionary and nurtured the K. K. Birla Group as one of the most respected 'Business Houses' in India. The Group covers a wide canvas with interests in fertilizers, media, textiles, sugar, shipping, heavy engineering, EPC services, financial services, furniture, information technology, and infrastructure.

The Group under his leadership forayed into the fertilizer business in 1967 through Zuari Industries Limited, Goa, which led to the foundation of Zuari Agro Chemicals. Dr. K. K. Birla was a member of the Rajya Sabha for three successive terms from 1984 –2002 and served on several committees of Parliament. He was on the central board of the State Bank of India and ICICI. Dr. Birla also headed Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FICCI), Indian Sugar Mills Association and many sports federations.

Dr. K.K. Birla was the Chancellor of Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani. BITS has four campuses at Pilani, Goa, and Hyderabad. He had set up the K. K. Birla Foundation, which confers annual awards for excellence in literature, scientific research, Indian philosophy, art, culture and sports. He also established the K. K. Birla Academy, which undertakes research in scientific, historical and cultural subjects.

Dr. Birla was a Hindi Prabhakar (Honours in Hindi) and D.Litt (Honoris Causa). His contribution to the field of literature has been immense through the publication of his works. It was a passion that Dr. Birla continued to pursue till the end.

Shri Gobind Vallabh Pant at Birla House in New Delhi in 1940s
Shri Gobind Vallabh Pant at Birla House in New Delhi in 1940s
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Dr KK Birla at BITS, Pilani in 1953
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Dr. K. K. Birla at BITS, Pilani in 1953
Dr K. K. Birla with Members of Indian Parliament
Smt Indira Gandhi wih Dr KK Birla during a private visit to Birla House, Calcutta in  1961
Smt. Indira Gandhi wih Dr. K. K. Birla during a private visit to Birla House, Calcutta in 1961
With Jaya Prakash Narayan in  late 1960s
With Jaya Prakash Narayan in late 1960s
Dr KK Birla and Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan in 1956
Dr. K. K. Birla and Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan in 1956
Dr KK Birla with Mr Saroj Poddar
Dr. K. K. Birla with Mr. Saroj Poddar
Dr KK Birla and Mr. J R D Tata at Industrial Consultative Committee Meeting, Calcutta
Dr. K. K. Birla and Mr. J. R. D. Tata at Industrial Consultative Committee Meeting, Calcutta
Dr. K. K. Birla on the occasion of Zuari’s one million farmer-customers
Mr Bill Clinton and Dr KK Birla at President House in 2000
Mr. Bill Clinton and Dr. K. K. Birla at President House in 2000
Dr KK Birla on the occasion of Zuari’s one million farmer-customers
Dr KK Birla on the occasion of Zuari’s one million farmer-customers
Dr KK Birla during foundation of Zuari Plant in Goa in 1967 with employees and US Steel members
Dr. K. K. Birla at the foundation of Zuari Plant in Goa in 1967 with employees and US Steel members