Basant Kumar Birla (BK Birla), chairman of Century Textiles and Industries, passed away in Mumbai on Wednesday. He was 98.

Grandfather of Kumar Mangalam Birla, the veteran industrialist is survived by his daughters Jayshree Mohta and Manjushree Khaitan.

Youngest son of philanthropist Ghanshyam Das Birla, BK Birla tap into opportunities in sectors such as cotton, viscose, polyester and nylon yarns, refractory, paper, shipping, tyrecord, transparent paper, spun pipe, cement, tea, coffee, cardamom, chemicals, plywood, MDF Board.

Birla played a key role in a slew of business initiatives and had been active in business since the age of 15.

He started his career as the chairman of Kesoram Industries.

He was also the chairman of the Krishnarpan Charity Trust, which runs an engineering college named BK Birla Institute of Engineering & Technology.

He also established Birla Public School in Qatar and the Birla College of Arts, Science & Commerce in Kalyan near Mumbai, according to a profile available online.