Birla Group patriarch BK Birla passed away in Mumbai on Wednesday at the age of 98, according to NDTV. A doyen of the Indian industry, Birla had been suffering from age-related ailments. Birla was the chairman of Century Textiles and Industries and had been active in business since the age of 15.
He was instrumental in a slew of business initiatives, starting with his stint as the chairman of Kesoram Industries, they said. He is survived by his daughters Manjushree Khaitan and Jayshree Mohta, who run Kesoram Industries and Jayshree Tea and Industries, respectively.