[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 163 (Friday, October 20, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1997-E1998]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN MEMORIAM: ADITYA VIKRAM BIRLA

                                 ______


                         HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 20, 1995

  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I call to the attention of my colleagues 
the obituary of Aditya Birla, which appeared in the October 3 edition 
of the New York Times. Aditya Birla, the chairman of the Birla Group, 
one of India's largest industrial conglomerates, died on October 1 in 
Baltimore. His death at the young age of 51 was a tragedy because it 
cut short a prolific life of entrepreneurship and leadership.
  Mr. Speaker, Aditya Birla was one of the foremost advocates of 
expanding Indian economic activity abroad and opening India's vast 

[[Page E1998]]
consumer marketplace to foreign investment and competition. When India 
began its historic market reforms in 1991 under the leadership of Prime 
Minister P.V. Narsimha Rao and Finance Minister Manmohan Singh, many 
observers felt that Mr. Birla, whose company is one of the largest 
manufacturers of automobiles in India, would resist the entry of 
foreign companies into the India marketplace. Aditya Birla, however, 
proved the observers wrong. He became a strong proponent of the reforms 
and entered into many important joint ventures with American companies. 
Most recently Aditya Birla signed agreements with AT&T to provide 
cellular and local telephone service in India.
  Mr. Speaker, Aditya Birla was a visionary. His untimely death has 
left a void in the Indian corporate world that will be difficult to 
fill. I know my colleagues join me in sending condolences to the Birla 
family. His wife, son, and daughter should know that our thoughts and 
prayers are with them at this time.

                          ____________________