Doctor Sarla Birla was an Indian educationalist who was the founder of about 45 educational institutions supported by the Birla family.
Background
She was the daughter of the freedom fighter Brijlal Biyani, daughter-in-law of the pioneering industrialist GD Birla and the grandmother of billionaire Kumar Mangalam Birla. In April 1942, she married Basant Kumar Birla, the son of GD Birla, after having been introduced to each other by Jamnalal Bajaj and Mahatma Gandhi.
Career
They are sometimes referred to as the "first couple of Birla empire". Her only son Aditya Vikram Birla died early in 1995. She had made notable contributions through her social and institutional activities and takes an active part in their working.
She had been is associated as governor, trustee, or otherwise by establishing the following institutions:
Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani
BK Birla Institute of Engineering & Technology, Pilani
Mahadevi Birla World Academy
Mahadevi Birla Shishu Vihar
Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Calcutta
Swar Sangam, Calcutta
Sangit Kala Mandir, Calcutta
Sangit Kala Mandir Trust, Calcutta
Her collection of Indian art, including that on display at the Birla Academy of Art and Culture in Kolkata, ranks amongst India"s notable private collections.
The Sangit Kala Mandir, besides the Birla Academy of Art and Culture, were both set up by the couple. Sarala was born the daughter of Brijlal Biyani, a freedom fighter and Congress Party worker in a unusually progressive family that even 70 years ago ago believed that girls must be educated.
Sarala recalled:
"I was studying in Pune, Ferguson College, and I got a message that I have to go to Bombay, to Birla house, to see the boy. I went there, I was there for one night and there were so many boys there, I did not know who was who.
I stayed there and I came back.
Gandhiji said, "she is perfectly right," and then he said that we will arrange a meeting between you - you please come again. So I said, "when I have my holidays, only then will I come." Father was so nice, he said, "alright." So, when I had my holidays, I went, and we met on November 8."
Although raised in a progressive family, Sarala often at husband"s side for 73 years. She was 91 years old, but it was a familiar sight to see her holding her husband"s hand during family functions, and accompanying him to the annual general meetings of various group companies.
In March 28, 2015, she was in Delhi to attend a function marking the 121st annibersary of GD Birla.
She was injured in a minor accident involving her wheelchair and the lift (elevator), and died as a result of old-age related heart failure. She was 91.