In the year 1952,Late Shri Basant Kumar Birla, the 31 year old younger son of Shri Ghanshyam
Das Birla, laid the foundation for his first independent venture, Century Rayon
at Shahad, along Murbad Road on the banks of Ulhas River.The Birla family has always
operated beyond business through numerous community initiatives in education, health,
philanthropy and humanitarianism.To steer these activities around Century Rayon,
the Kalyan Charitable Trust (KCT) was formed in 1956, under the stewardship of Late
Dr Sarala Birla.
One of the first endeavors of KCT was to expand the national chain of Birla Temples,
by constructing the grandiose Vithoba Mandir at the picturesque hill top of Shahad.
The magnificent structure is built of sandstone in the Nagar style of architecture
with intricate carvings on pillars and walls. The regal temple complex augmented
by the beautiful Shivaji Udyan offer the local community a serene getaway.
“We are proud of our ancient heritage and we have to ensure that our future
is no less glorious”.
Late Dr Sarala Birla
One of the major social outreach programs undertaken by Century Rayon way back in
1958 was the creation of Century Rayon High School with the noble objective to actively
contribute to the development of local community. Started with a modest strength
of 50, the School today has on its roll 5000 children. The School is affiliated
to The Maharashtra State Education Board.
Under the aegis of KCT, The Kalyan Citizens’ Education Society (KCES) was formed
in 1971 to provide a learning environment that inspires and motivates young minds.
Birla College of Arts Science and Commerce was thus born in 1972. The College with
over 8500 students offers multi-faceted under graduate, post graduate, PHD programs.
Birla College has been bestowed with the distinction of College of Excellence (2015-2020)
by the UGC, besides numerous other accolades.
Extending CSR to the health sector, Century Rayon Hospital Trust was instituted
in 1972 as an OPD unit rendering indispensable medical services to the people of
the locality. Over the years, it has grown to be a full-fledged multi-specialty
64 bedded Hospital, providing quality health care to society.
B.K. Birla Public School, Kalyan was another premier institution founded in 1998 under KCES,
offering high quality education emphasizing on all round development of students
through benchmarked best practices. The School has come a long way since its inception
and is rated as one of the best schools in Mumbai region by both national and international
standards.
Smt Rajashreeji who is a well known philanthropist, philosopher and promoter of
Art, Culture and Education, has taken over the charge of ‘Kalyan Charity Trust’
and thus of Kalyan Citizens’ Education Society after the demise of Smt. Saralaji
Birla and lends her patronage for the growth of these institutes. She was conferred
with the honor of ‘Padma Bhushan’ in 2011 in recognition of her contribution to
society.