Kudaisya's biography explores all the aspects of this legendary figure. Elegantly written, it reconstructs Birla's eventful public and private life drawing upon the rich historical evidence available in his private papers. Kudaisya was the first scholar to have unrestricted access to these papers. This book is not simply a story of onr of the greatest Indians of our times, but also provides a window on the transformation which India has witnessed during the twentieth century. It shows how Birla's life was marked by a complex interplay of profit, power and piety.