Takeover baron, industrialist R P Goenka passes away

Industrialist Rama Prasad Goenka, architect of the RPG Enterprises conglomerate spanning varied interests from power to music, passed away at his residence this morning.
Known as the country's 'takeover specialist', the 83-year-old industrialist was suffering from old-age related illnesses and breathed his last at 6.00 AM, family sources said.
Eldest son of Keshav Prasad Goenka, he belonged to one of the oldest business families of the city. R P Goenka is survived by his wife Sushila and sons Harsh Vardhan and Sanjiv.
Goenka studied History from the prestigious Presidency College here and later attended an advanced management programme at the Harvard University in USA.

Described as "one of Bengal's true champions of industry" by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, R P Goenka established RPG Enterprises in 1979 which included Phillips Carbon Black, Asian Cables, Agarpara Jute Mill and Murphy India with a turnover of about Rs 100 crore.
Other major companies in the group's fold are power utility CESC, music production company Saregama and CEAT Tyres.
Goenka was one of the few industrialists who did not move out of West Bengal despite decline in the industrial atmosphere in the turbulent 1970's and 1980's and instead took over several industries owned by expats, who sold off their interests and left for their native places during this period.

The takeover baron acquired one giant company after another during the 80s, expanding the group's footprint across several businesses, including tyre, carbon black, transmission, pharmaceuticals, IT, power generation and music.