Sheth Jugal Kishore Birla (23 May 1883– 24 June 1967) was a scion of the Birla family and the eldest son of Baldeo Das Birla. He was a noted industrialist, philanthropist and vocal supporter of Hindu philosophy. [1]
He started his business career at an early age, joining his father in Calcutta and soon came to be known as reputed trader and speculator in opium, silver, spice and other trades from which the Birlas later diversified into trading of jute and other items like cotton during and after the First World War, by which time his younger brother Ghanshyam Das Birla had also joined the business. The family firm, which was until 1918 run as Baldeodas Jugalkishore, was made into a limited company known as Birla Brothers Limited. [1] [2]
At one point, Ghanshyam Das Birla suffered heavy losses and decided to sell the mill to the Andrew Yule group. Jugal Kishore stood by him and told him not to worry about money but to run the mill as efficiently as he could, which led to a revival of Birla Jute, [2] now the flagship company of M.P Birla Group.
Although Birla started his business life in Calcutta, he later moved to Delhi and lived in Birla House [3] until his death. Lakshmi Niwas Birla, the eldest son of G D Birla, was adopted by him. [4]
Having no children, Birla devoted much time and money to charity, building numerous temples, the Kolkata Medical College, Marwadi Balika Vidyalaya in Kolkata for girls and numerous other such institutions. A devout Hindu, he was also the moving force behind the building of many of the early Birla Mandirs across India, including the first in Delhi, and those in Kolkata and Bhopal. Supporting gaushalas (cow shelters) and pinjrapols (animal and bird feeding mangers) was another cause dear to his heart. He also donated money to various Hindu causes and organisations, including Hindu Mahasabha and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, [5] at the same time supporting the finances of Mahatma Gandhi, the Indian National Congress and India's freedom movement, [6] which were looked after together by Ghanshaymdas Birla and others. [7] [8]
In 1920, with his brother Ghanshaym Das, he donated funds to start a girls' school under their private trust called Marwari Balika Vidyalaya, which has now grown into the noted Shri Shikshayatan School and Shri Shikshayatan College. [9]
He was a devoted follower of Gandhi and took a personal interest as well as donating funds for relief and charity works. [10]
He spent much of his personal wealth in building Hindu temples known as Birla Temples and dharamshalas across the major metropolitan towns of India and the promotion of schools, universities and hospitals, [7] [11] [12] and adopting many villages in times of famine and natural disasters. [13] [14]
In his old age, he took the leading role to fulfill the unfinished dream of Madan Mohan Malaviya of building Krishna Janmabhoomi Kesava Deo Temple. He donated a major sum and formed a private trust in 1951 to which the rights of land were later transferred, and temple works were inaugurated in 1965, for which he is remembered by Hindus. [15] He also donated initial funds for the building of Vivekananda Rock Memorial and arranged for further funds for the project from his brothers, the construction of which, however, began several years after his death. [12]
Birla died in 1967 [1] and left his wealth to religious trusts and philanthropy and for his adopted son L N Birla. [16]
Krishna is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme God in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is widely revered among Hindu divinities. Krishna's birthday is celebrated every year by Hindus on Krishna Janmashtami according to the lunisolar Hindu calendar, which falls in late August or early September of the Gregorian calendar.
The Birla family is an Indian business family connected with the industrial and social history of India.
Mathura is a city and the administrative headquarters of Mathura district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located 57.6 kilometres (35.8 mi) north of Agra, and 146 kilometres (91 mi) south-east of Delhi; about 14.5 kilometres (9.0 mi) from the town of Vrindavan, and 22 kilometres (14 mi) from Govardhan. In ancient times, Mathura was an economic hub, located at the junction of important caravan routes. The 2011 Census of India estimated the population of Mathura at 441,894.
Krishna Janmashtami, also known simply as Krishnashtami, Janmashtami, or Gokulashtami, is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. In certain Hindu texts, such as the Gita Govinda, Krishna has been identified as supreme God and the source of all avatars. Krishna's birth is celebrated and observed on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the dark fortnight in Shravana Masa. According to the purnimanta tradition), Krishna's birth is celebrated on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the dark fortnight in Bhadrapada Masa.
Vrindavan, also spelt Vrindaban and Brindaban, is a historical city in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located in the Braj Bhoomi region and holds religious importance for Hindus who believe that Krishna, one of the main Gods in Hinduism, spent most of his childhood in this city. Vrindavan has about 5,500 temples dedicated to the worship of Krishna and his chief consort, Radha. It is one of the most sacred places for Vaishnava traditions.
Mathura district is situated along the banks of the river Yamuna is a district of Uttar Pradesh state of north-central India. The historic city of Mathura is the district headquarters. Mathura district is home to many important sites associated with goddess Radha and Lord Krishna, who was born in Mathura and grew up in the nearby town of Vrindavan. Both cities are some of the most sacred sites in the Vaishnava tradition, making Mathura district an important Hindu pilgrimage centre.
The Laxminarayan Mandir is a Hindu temple located in New Delhi, India. The presiding deity in the temple is Laxminarayan i.e., Vishnu along with his consort Lakshmi. The temple was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi ensured that members of all castes would be allowed in the temple. It was built by Jugal Kishore Birla from 1933 and 1939. There are also small shrines on the sides dedicated to Shiva, Ganesha, Hanuman and Buddha.
Shrinathji is a form of Krishna, manifested as a seven-year-old child. The principal shrine of Shrinathji is the Shrinathji Temple in the temple city of Nathdwara, 48 kilometres north-east of Udaipur city in Rajasthan, India. Shrinathji is the central presiding deity of the Vaishnava sect known as Pushtimarg or the Vallabha Sampradaya, established by Vallabhacharya. Shrinathji is worshipped mainly by the followers of Bhakti Yoga and the Vaishnavas in Gujarat and Rajasthan, and Bhatias amongst others.
The Birla Mandirs refer to different Hindu temples or Mandirs built by the Birla family in different cities across India. All these temples are magnificently built, some in white marble or sandstone. The temples are generally located in a prominent location, carefully designed to accommodate a large number of visitors. The worship and discourses are well organized. The first one was built in 1939 in Delhi collectively by Jugal Kishore Birla and his brothers and their father. Later temples were built by and managed by different branches of the family. For both of the temples in Varanasi, the Birlas joined other donors to support the cost.
Radha-Krishna is the combined form of the Hindu god Krishna with his chief consort and shakti Radha. They are regarded as the feminine as well as the masculine realities of God, in several Krishnaite traditions of Vaishnavism.
Birla Mandir in Kolkata, India, is a Hindu temple on Asutosh Chowdhury Avenue, Ballygunge, built by the industrialist Birla family. It is dedicated to Vishnu avatars such as Rama and Krishna. This temple is open in the morning from 5.30 A.M. to 11 A.M. and in the evening from 4 .30 P.M. to 9 P.M. On Janmashtami, the birthday of Krishna, devotees come from far away places to pay their respect to the deities.
Shri Shikshayatan School is a prestigious all girls school in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It is affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education. Shri Shikshayatan school offers education from pre-nursery up to class 12. The school has won the British Council International School Award numerous times and was declared as The Telegraph's School of The Year in 2018. The school branches out into The Shri Shikshayatan College, a NAAC A grade college affiliated to the University of Calcutta. The school was declared "India's Most Dynamic School" by the jury of Education Today in 2022.
Krishn Kanhai is an Indian artist and painter, specialist in portrait, realistic, contemporary paintings and on lord Radha-Krishna theme paintings. A Padmshri awardee, Kanhai is described as an artist with the midas touch.
Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat(JKP), previously known as Sadhna Bhawan Trust, is a charitable religious organisation in India. It was established in 1970 by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj and continues to run today under the three Presidents he appointed. The philanthropic activities are designed to fulfil the vision of Jagadguru Kripalu, who was entitled with Jagadguru on 14 January 1957. To fulfil his vision, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji established three major temples, Bhakti Mandir (Bhakti Dham, Mangarh), Prem Mandir (Vrindavan) and Kirti Mandir (Barsana).
Krishna Janmasthan Temple Complex is a group of Hindu temples situated in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India. There are three main temples inside the premises -- Keshavdevtemple which is dedicated to Krishna, Garbh Griha where Krishna is believed to be born in Dvapar Yuga and Bhagvata Bhavan where presiding deities are Radha Krishna.
Shri Radha Vallabh Temple, also called Shri Radha Vallabhlal ji Temple is a historic temple in the city of Vrindavan, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh, India. The temple is dedicated to Hindu deities Radha Krishna. The temple belongs to Radha Vallabh Sampradaya and was constructed in 16th century under the guidance of Vrindavan saint Hith Harivansha Mahaprabhu.