Rama Prasad Goenka, India's `takeover specialist,' died at his residence in Kolkata at 6 am, at the age of 83.

The business icon was cremated at Keoratala crematorium, where Harsh Vardhan and Sanjiv - the sons of the businessman performed the last rites.

Goenka made his mark in varied businesses ranging from music to tyre, and gradually started being regarded as a father figure in Kolkata's business community.

Born on March 1, 1930, Goenka studied in the Presidency College, and then went to the United States to attain an advanced management degree from Harvard University.

Goenka established RPG Enterprises in the year 1979. He braved hard times, and stretched his business network across the country and beyond. He established interests in CEAT tyres, power generation & distribution CESC, infrastructure giant KEC International, Life Sciences, PCBL cheemicals, and Saregama media & entertainment.

The turnover of the RPG Group touched more than Rs 20,000 crore in the recent times. Goenka remained Chairman Emeritus of RPG Enterprises as well as the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group till his death.

The Goenka family's business origin in Kolkata traces back to 1820, when Ramdutt Goenka had shifted from Rajasthan to Kolkata and started his business in the city.