RB
Philanthropist

Rajashree Birla

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Established the Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development.

Rajashree Birla is an Indian philanthropist. She is married to the late Aditya Birla. After her husband's death in 1995, Rajashree began working in CSR and charity sectors, developing a large philanthropic organization funded by her family. In 2011, the Government of India honoured her with the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award, for her services to society.

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A detail that
surprised us

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Rajashree Birla was engaged to Aditya Vikram Birla at age 10, while he was 14, initiating a three-stage traditional Marwari marriage process culminating in 1965.

The Story

1
In 1965, Rajashree Birla, at just 17, moved from Madurai to Kolkata after a three-stage arranged marriage with Aditya Vikram Birla, a scion of the Birla industrial empire, marking the start of her life intertwined with India's industrial history.
2
🌟 After her husband’s death in 1995, Rajashree transitioned from family life to philanthropy, spearheading the Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, which today operates in over 7,000 villages across India.
3By 2011, her commitment to social reform earned her the Padma Bhushan, recognizing her work in healthcare, education, and women’s empowerment on a national scale.
4She chairs the FICCI-Aditya Birla CSR Centre for Excellence and was the first Chairperson of FICCI's expert committee on Corporate Social Responsibility, shaping how Indian corporations approach social welfare.

🏅 Awards & Honours

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Padma Bhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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Rajashree Birla was only 17 when she moved to Kolkata after her arranged marriage, yet she completed her Arts degree at Loreto College Kolkata post-marriage, encouraged by her husband and in-laws.

📸 Through the Years

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🗓️ A Life in Moments

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Birth
Born in Bikaner, Rajasthan
Rajashree was born in a Marwari Vaishya family in Bikaner and raised in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
1948
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Other
Marriage to Aditya Vikram Birla
Completed the traditional three-stage Marwari marriage process and moved to Kolkata to join the Birla family.
1965
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Other
Birth of son Kumar Mangalam Birla
Became mother to Kumar Mangalam Birla, future industrialist and group chairman.
1967
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Other
Death of Aditya Birla
Following her husband's death, Rajashree Birla began focusing on philanthropy and CSR initiatives.
1995
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Award
Awarded Padma Bhushan
Recognized by the Government of India for her social services and philanthropic work.
2011
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Career
Aditya Birla Group CSR impact report
Reported healthcare outreach to over 50,000 mothers and operation of 20 hospitals across India.
2019
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🗝️Discoveries

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🏆ACHIEVEMENT

The Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, chaired by Rajashree Birla, operates in over 7,000 villages and reaches 9 million people with healthcare and education programs.

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🏆ACHIEVEMENT

In 2019-20 alone, the Aditya Birla Group’s healthcare programs under Rajashree Birla's direction covered over 50,000 expecting mothers and children under two years across five Indian states.

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🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

Rajashree Birla’s family donated over ₹1 lakh in the 1880s to establish goshalas in Kolkata, a tradition of philanthropy that continues through religious and social projects.

No quote recorded for Rajashree Birla yet.

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Important to make cancer treatment affordable: Rajashree Birla
·YouTube
More from this archive
Important to make cancer treatment affordable: Rajashree Birla
01
Important to make cancer treatment affordable: Rajashree Birla
YouTube
Rajashree Birla
02
Rajashree Birla
YouTube
Shiksha Aarambh Vyakhyan by Smt. Rajashree Birla | IRMA
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Shiksha Aarambh Vyakhyan by Smt. Rajashree Birla | IRMA
YouTube
Message from Padma Bhushan Mrs. Rajashree Birla
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Message from Padma Bhushan Mrs. Rajashree Birla
YouTube
Reminisces by Smt Rajashree Birla
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Reminisces by Smt Rajashree Birla
YouTube
Mrs. Rajashree Birla giving inaugural speech at Mahatma Award 2019
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Mrs. Rajashree Birla giving inaugural speech at Mahatma Award 2019
YouTube
Rajshree Birla address @ Corporate Social Responsibility 2021
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Rajshree Birla address @ Corporate Social Responsibility 2021
YouTube
Smt. Rajashree Birla's Visit to New Jersey Inspires Gandhian Ideals
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Smt. Rajashree Birla's Visit to New Jersey Inspires Gandhian Ideals
YouTube
Rajashree Birla - Our Events - Rotary
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Rajashree Birla - Our Events - Rotary
YouTube
Maharashtra Bharati Akhil Bharatiya Hindi seva puraskar-Award Fnction-2008-Rajashree Birla
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Maharashtra Bharati Akhil Bharatiya Hindi seva puraskar-Award Fnction-2008-Rajashree Birla
YouTube

🌱 What changed because of them

Rajashree Birla transformed the Birla family’s philanthropic legacy into a structured, large-scale social development effort impacting millions in rural India. Her leadership in CSR set new benchmarks for corporate responsibility, influencing policies that integrate women's education and healthcare in business-driven social programs. Institutions like the Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and the FICCI CSR Centre for Excellence continue shaping India's corporate philanthropy framework.

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