# G.D. Birla’s Depression-Era Lesson on Building Businesses

2026-08-15T09:56:03+00:00 | Business & Economy | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

G.D. Birla, the industrialist and philanthropist, made this statement during the Great Depression of the 1930s, according to Business Today. He argued that a downturn tests an entrepreneur’s ability more severely than a boom, when strong demand and easy capital can conceal weak management or inefficient operations. Born in Pilani in 1894, Birla expanded his businesses across textiles, jute, sugar, cement and banking. He supported Mahatma Gandhi and India’s freedom movement, and helped establish institutions in education and healthcare, including the foundation that led to BITS Pilani. Birla died in 1983.

## Coverage

- businesstoday.in <https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/trends/story/quote-of-the-day-by-gd-birla-any-fool-can-establish-a-business-when-there-is-a-boom-but-it-is-during-a-period-of-depression-that-ones-ability-to-establish-and-run-a-business-is-really-tested-548807-2026-08-15?utm_source=rssfeed>

Tags: Birla Group, BITS Pilani, G.D. Birla, Mahatma Gandhi
Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/g-d-birlas-depression-era-lesson-on-building-businesses/
License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources.
Cite: https://indianopinion.org/g-d-birlas-depression-era-lesson-on-building-businesses/#story-in-brief

Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.