India Inc. condoled the death of veteran industrialist and founder of RPG Group, Rama Prasad Goenka, in Kolkata Sunday.

"One of the tallest business leaders has passed away from our midst and India has lost one of the doyens of business", said S. Gopalakrishnan, president of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). 

"CII has had the benefit of Mr Goenka's visionary thoughts and guidance from time to time on matters of policy and issues, which ensured that Industry always moved in a progressive way in the country," the industry lobby said in a stratement.

"Shri Goenka has been former president of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and through his relentless work he helped strengthen industry's recognition in the global economy," said FICCI president Naina lal Kidwai. 

"FICCI and Indian industry will continue to be inspired by his work across diverse field of management, academics, technology and his philanthropic initiatives."

Rama Prasad Goenka (popularly known as RP) established the RPG Enterprises in 1979, and his undivided business empire encompassed - CESC, Noida Power Co. ltd., RPG Raychem, Spencer, CEAT Tyers, Saregama India (previously Gramophone Co. of India), KEC International, Phillips Carbon Black, Fujitsu ICIM (now Zensar Technologies), Harrisons Malayalam, Firstsource Solutions ltd. and RPG life Sciences.

Goenka received the "The Order Of the Sacred Treasure Gold and Silver Star" from the Emperor of Japan.

He was a Rajya Sabha member between 2000 and 2006. 

He was 83, and is survived by wife Sushila and two sons Harsh Vardhan and Sanjiv - both leading industrialists.

While Harsh is now RPG Enterprises chairman, his younger brother is the chairman of RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, after the tycoon amicably divided his entire business between them about three years ago.

Goenka was chairman emeritus of both the groups, which have a combined turnover of around Rs.30,000 crore.

Mourning the death of RPG Group chief Rama Prasad Goenka, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Sunday described him as "one of Bengal's true champions of industry".

Expressing her "heartfelt condolence", the chief minister said in a message: "Today we have lost one of Bengal's true champions of industry".

"May the almighty give enough strength to his family members to bear this irreparable loss. May his departed soul rest in peace," she said.

Goenka, a doyen of the Indian industry and business titan of eastern India, died Sunday morning at his South Kolkata home after a long battle with cancer.

Expressing grief at the death of industrialist Rama Prasad Goenka, Birla family patriarch Basant Kumar Birla Sunday said that "India has lost one of its prominent sons".

"We are extremely grieved to learn of the sad demise of Shri R.P. Goenka. Our association with Shri Rama babu goes back to several decades. He was a very close family friend of ours," Birla said in a joint statement with his wife Sarla.

Describing Goenka as an "exceptionally intelligent and a highly successful personality", Birla said: "In his death, not only Bengal but India has lost one of its prominent sons."

"Our heartfelt condolences to Sushila Devi and other family members and our prayers to god to rest his soul in everlasting peace," the message said.