Our Founders
Late Shri Basant Kumar Birla
A Visionary Leader, A Lifelong Educationist
Shri Basant Kumar Birla (1921–2019), the youngest son of the legendary philanthropist Ghanshyam Das Birla, was a pioneering industrialist and a revered educationist whose life was guided by the belief that access to quality education is a fundamental right for all. By the age of fifteen, he had begun contributing to the family’s vast industrial empire, eventually becoming Chairman of Kesoram Industries.
Driven by a profound commitment to nation-building through education, Shri B.K. Birla, along with his wife Smt. Sarala Birla, established numerous institutions across India and abroad, including the B.K. Birla Centre for Education, B.K. Birla Institute of Engineering & Technology, and Birla College of Arts, Science & Commerce. His guidance also shaped institutions such as BITS Pilani and the Birla Institute of Management Technology.
As Chairman of the Krishnarpan Charity Trust, he championed initiatives that today benefit over 50,000 students annually. His philanthropic vision extended globally, with initiatives like the B.K. Birla Scholars Programme at London Business School.
Author of several books, including his autobiography Svantah Sukhaya, Shri B.K. Birla’s legacy is one of integrity, vision, and service; values that continue to inspire generations through the institutions he founded.
Late Dr. Smt. Sarala Birla
The Gentle Strength Behind Great Institutions
Dr. Smt. Sarala Birla was a visionary leader, an icon in the space of socio-cultural initiatives, a dedicated karmayogini and a deeply spiritual soul whose life was rooted in kindness, service, and unwavering values. As a pioneering educationist and a compassionate matriarch of the Birla family, she dedicated her life to the upliftment of society through quality education and the promotion of arts and culture.
Together with her husband, Shri Basant Kumar Birla, Dr. Sarala Birla played a pivotal role in establishing 45 educational institutions across India. Her commitment to holistic learning created nurturing spaces where academic excellence, character building, and cultural appreciation flourished. Under her stewardship, institutions like the Sangit Kala Mandir and the Birla Academy of Art and Culture in Kolkata emerged as leading centres of artistic excellence—testaments to her lifelong devotion to nurturing talent and preserving cultural heritage. She embodied spirituality and selfless service—hosting revered saints, performing numerous yagnas, undertaking pilgrimages, building temples and community spaces and personally preparing meals for the needy, all with devotion, discipline, and silent fortitude.
Dr. Sarala Birla’s legacy is one of strength, grace, and tireless perseverance. Her luminous spirit continues to inspire generations, and the values she embodied remain the guiding force behind the institutions she founded. Her life’s work stands as a beacon of purity, compassion, and transformative service.
Late Smt. Manjushree Khaitan
A Legacy of Excellence and Empowerment
Smt. Manjushree Khaitan, the youngest daughter of Shri Basant Kumar Birla and Dr. Smt. Sarala Birla, was a distinguished educationist, cultural patron, and business leader whose life was dedicated to service, empowerment, and excellence. As Chairperson of Kesoram Industries, she carried forward the Birla legacy with vision and integrity. Her leadership extended beyond industry into the realm of education, where she made a profound and lasting impact.
A staunch believer in the transformative power of learning, Smt. Khaitan devoted over four decades to the Ashok Hall Group of Schools. She championed girls’ education and introduced professional management systems that made her institutions benchmarks of quality and innovation.
Despite her many responsibilities, Smt. Khaitan remained personally involved, regularly visiting the school’s serene campus to connect with staff and students. Her legacy lives on in the values she instilled, the lives she touched, and the institutions she built—each one a testament to her enduring spirit and unwavering dedication.”
