His father, Baldeo Das Birla was the founder of the Birla Group. He mover to Calcutta In the late 19th century and with it attached close ties to the freedom movement at the time.
Birla’s grandfather Sheth Shivnarayan Birla, a member of the Marwari community from the westerly state of Rajasthan ...... was a traditional Marwari moneylender against pawned items
AS A RESULT:-
At the age of 13, G.D was already carving out a career as a trader and broker in Gunny and Hessian in Calcutta
As a broker, GD had to call on many British 'Burra Saheb'. The practice was that some benches the waiting room were reserved for the use of whites only. GD's spirit rebelled against the humiliation involve; he decided that would have his own Jute Mill.
In Calcutta, he joined the Bengali terrorists. He was named among those wanted in the Rodda conspiracy case to smuggle arms and went underground for three months.
Ghanshyam Das Birla entered the business arena during the time of First World War .
GD was consistent in his fight for the interests of the emerging Indian industrial capitalism. It was his prescription for fiscal autonomy, that ensured full protection to Indian industry.
He was in the forefront of the campaign against the government's currency policy.
In the second round table conference, he worked hard against inclusion financial safeguards in what later became the Government of India Act of 1935.
In the early thirties, G. D. went to England to influence those who were involved in making Indian policy. He kept Gandhiji informed of the developments of England. G. D. enjoyed the trust of many Congress leaders. G.D had a particularly close relation Sardar Patel, Jayprakash Narayan and Bidhan Chandra Roy.
The Birla’s are known for their work and support of the nation during the freedom struggle, and the family were close friends of