Sarala Birla, wife of industrialist Basant Kumar Birla passed away on Saturday in Delhi.

She was 91 and is survived by her husband and two daughters — Manjushree and Jayashree.

Birla group sources said that the death came unexpectedly.

Born on November 23, 1924 in Rajasthan, Sarala played an active role in the expansion of the Birla empire as her husband Basant Kumar Birla stepped into new areas that shaped the course of Indian business.

“In the Birla household where enterprise, culture and convention went side by side, Sarala stepped out of her role as an exclusive home-maker to carve a niche of her own in the spheres of education, art, culture and philanthropy.

In partnership with her husband, she laid the foundation of some 45 educational institutions including the Birla Institute of Technology & Science.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kolkata / by Special Correspondent / Kolkata – March 29th, 2015