03 July,2019 09:01 PM IST | | mid-day online correspondent
BK Birla. Pic/Twitter Nikkhhil Jethwa
Basant Kumar Birla who is also known as BK Birla, the nonagenarian industrialist and chairman of the B K Birla Group of companies, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 98. The veteran industrialist had been suffering from age-related ailments for a long time.
BK Birla was born on January 12, 1921, and was the youngest son of legendary Ghanshyam Das, father of Aditya Vikram - who died in October 1995 and grandfather of Kumar Mangalam Birla. He is survived by his daughters Manjushree Khaitan and Jayshree Mohta, who run Kesoram Industries and Jayshree Tea and Industries respectively.
Also Read: Birla Group patriarch, BK Birla passes away at 98
According to sources, BK Birla's body would be brought to his house at Birla Park in Kolkata and the cremation will take place on Thursday. Birla's grandson Kumarmangalam Birla had taken him to Mumbai due to his failing health. It is said that the seat of the Birla brothers in the city - Birla Building, will remain closed on Thursday as a mark of respect to B K Birla.
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BK Birla was considered as the grand old man of the old economy who could confound the best of McKinsey's. BK Birla's wife passed away before him in 2015. His only son Aditya Vikram Birla had died in 1995.
Soon after the news of his death was received, politicians and Industrialist alike took to Twitter to pay their tributes to the legendary industrialist.
In his tribute, President Ram Nath Kovid said that BK Birla was a stalwart who made crucial contributions to business, education and several social causes in India. Whereas, Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee said that she was saddened at the passing of noted industrialist Basant Kumar Birla Ji.
Here's how other politicians, industrialists, and netizens offered their condolences to BK Birla:
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