Baldeo Das Birla
{{short description|Indian industrialist and philanthropist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = Raja
| name = Baldeo Das Birla
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = 1863
| birth_place =
| death_date = 1956
| death_place =
| occupation = Industrialist
| parents = Shiv Narain Birla
| spouse =
| children = Jugal Kishore Birla
Rameshwar Das Birla
Ghanshyam Das Birla
Brij Mohan Birla
| known_for =
}}
File:Gandhi_at_the_Laxminarayan_Temple.jpg
Baldeo Das Birla (1863–1956) was an Indian industrialist and philanthropist. He contributed to the establishment of the Medical College Calcutta, and also built the Laxminarayan Temple, Delhi, also known as Birla Mandir, which was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1939.{{cite news |title=Making history with brick and mortar |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Making-history-with-brick-and-mortar/Article1-745801.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205200651/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Making-history-with-brick-and-mortar/Article1-745801.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 December 2012 |publisher=Hindustan Times|date=September 15, 2011 }}
Business
When Britain was trading opium with China, Baldeo Das Birla, who was an adopted son of Shiv Narayan Birla used this opportunity to engage cargo ships in partnership with other tradesmen to trade opium with China. In 1887, Baldeo Das moved to Calcutta to set up business.{{Cite web|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/podcast-the-business-of-family-building-with-the-birlas-2568381.html|title=Podcast {{!}} The business of family: Building with the Birlas|website=Moneycontrol|date=14 May 2018 |access-date=2019-03-13}}
Personal life
In the book by his great-grandson, Yash Birla mentioned that Baldeo Das Birla was named Raja by the British. The book further states that both Baldeo and his wife were both simple people who were deeply religious and superstitious.{{Cite book|title=On a prayer|last1=Birla|first1=Yash|last2=Singh|first2=Vishwaveer|isbn=9780670085545|location=New Delhi|oclc=877930797|year = 2014}}
Baladeo Birla and his wife had four sons: Jugal Kishore, Rameshwar Das, Ghanshyam Das Birla, and Brij Mohan Birla.
Baldeo Das was awarded the Raibahadur title in 1917. In 1920, he retired from business and started living in Banares pursuing religious studies. In 1925, he was awarded the title of "Raja" by the Maharaja of Dumraon. He was awarded D. Litt. by Banaras Hindu University.
Writings by Baldeo Das Birla
- Chhandogyopnishada Rahasya, 1926
- Vedanta va Atmavichara, 1935
- Darshanik Vichara, 1950
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
- {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20070310213340/http://www.hinduonnet.com/businessline/2000/07/10/stories/121009bs.htm Business Online article]}} URL accessed on 1 April 2006
{{Aditya Birla Group}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Birla, Baldeo Das}}
Category:Indian philanthropists
Category:Founders of Indian schools and colleges
Category:Businesspeople from British India
Category:People from the Bengal Presidency
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