Former finance minister Manmohan Singh, who released a biography of Aditya Vikram by Minhas Merchant at the function, pointed out that at the heart of Aditya Birla's achievements lay the greatness of the first generation of industrialists, of Ghanshyam Das Birla and Jamshedji Tata, who ignored colonial resistance to their enterprise, ignored the lack of level playing fields, and stamped their greatness on the country's industrial history.

"Aditya Birla followed in his grandfather's footsteps in ignoring the adversities, in meeting the challenges," Singh said in his address at a function attended by the high priests of enterprise. The task ahead was a "difficult and challenging" one of creating a country"without war, want and misery." Aditya Birla's last words, before leaving his wife and son two and a half years ago, were: "Be brave." Kumarmangalam Birla, 30 and already squaring up to some of the most serious challenges the group has ever faced, spoke of his father: "On his death, thousands of letters streamed in. I saw the flood of emotions and realised how much of a difference one person can make and how many lives - from the humble to the privileged - one person can touch."

To remember is to celebrate. Basant K Birla and Sarala Birla, parents who watched quietly as a book, through which they will share their son's life with others, was released. Rajashree Birla, Aditya Vikram's wife, was also present.