Dhiru Bhai Ambani

DHIRU BHAI AMBANI

Early life  D h iru b h a i A m b a n i w a s b o rn o n 2 8 D e ce m b e r 1 9 3 2 a t

K u k a sw a d a n e a r C h o rw a d , Dist . Junagadh ( now the sta te o f Gujarat , India) to Hirachand Gordhandhas A m b a n i a n d Ja m n a b e n [1] in a Modh family of modest means ( Incidentally , The Gandhis and Ambanis came from the same gothra , the trading community of Modh baniyas [2] ). Hirachand Govardhandhas Ambani earned little as a village school teacher . But his wife , Jamanaben knew how to stretch every paisa in a long way . Hirachand and Jamanaben had two daughters Trilochanaben and Jasuben and three sons Ramnikbhai , Dhirubhai and Natubhai . Dhirubhai was extremely demanding , robust of health and difficult to placate from his very babyhood days .  As a boy , he possessed immense gusto and enormous energy and was determined to do what he wanted to do in exactly the way he wanted it done . 

The first office of Reliance Commercial

Corporation was set up at Narsinathan Street at Masjid Bunder . It was a 350 Sq. Ft. room with a telephone, one table and three chairs. Initially they had two assistants to help them in their business. In 1965 Chambaklal Damani and Dhirubhai Ambani ended their partnership and Dhirubhai started on his own. 

School life  Dhirubhai was precocious and highly intelligent and

also as highly impatient of the oppressive grinding mill of the school classroom.He chose works which uses his physical ability to the maximum rather than mugging up school lessons. When Jamnaben once asked Dhirubhai and Ramnikbhai to help his father by earning money,He angrily replied "Why do you keep screaming for money? I will make heaps of money one day".During weekends,he began setting up onion/potato fries stall at village fairs and made extra money which he gave to his mother.  When he was 16 years old, he moved to Aden, Yemen. He worked with A. Besse & Co. for a salary of Rs.300 (Present Day $6.49). Two years later, A. Besse & Co. became the distributors for Shell products, and Dhirubhai was promoted to manage the company’s filling station at the port of Aden.  He was married to Kokilaben and had 2 sons, Mukesh, Anil and two daughters, Nina Kothari,Deepti Salgaonkar.

Reliance Commercial Corporation Ten years later, Dhirubhai's returned to India

and started a business Reliance Commercial Corporation with a capital of Rs. 15000.00 (US$ 375). The primary business of Reliance Commercial Corporation was import polyester yarn and export spices. The business was setup in partnership with Chambaklal Damani , his second cousin who was also there with him in Aden , Yemen .

Reliance Textiles Reliance Textiles Sensing good opportunity in

the business of textiles, Dhirubhai started his first textile mill at Naroda , near Ahmedabad in the year 1966 . Textiles were manufactured using polyester fibre yarn. Dhirubhai started the brand “Vimal”, which was named after his elder brother Ramaniklal Ambani’s son Vimal Ambani. Externsive marketing of the brand “Vimal” in the interiors of India made it a household name. 

Initial Public Offering Dhirubhai Ambani is credited with starting the

equity cult in India. More than 58,000 investors from various parts of India subscribed to Reliance’s IPO in 1977. Dhirubhai was able to convince people of rural Gujrat that being shareholders of his company will only bring returns to their investment. In 1986, The Annual General Meeting of Reliance Industries was held in Cross Maiden, Mumbai, was attended by more than 30,000 shareholders.

Diversification Over time His business has diversified into a core

specialization in petrochemicals with additional interests in telecommunications , information technology , energy , power , retail , textiles , infrastructure services, capital markets , and logistics . The company as a whole was described by the BBC as “a business empire with an estimated annual turnover of $12bn, and an 85,000-strong workforce”. 

Diversification Over time

Criticism Despite his almost Midas Touch, Ambani has known

to have flexible values and an unethical streak running through him. His biographer himself has cited some instances of his unethical behavior when he was just an ordinary employee at a petrol pump in Dubai. He has also been known to have links with the V P Singh government and later the BJP government. He has been accused of having manipulated government policies to suit his own need, and has been known to be a king-maker in government elections. Although most media sources tend to speak out about business-politics nexus, the Ambani house has always enjoyed more protection and shelter from the media storms that sweep across the country.

Death Dhirubhai Ambani was admitted to the Breach Candy

Hospital in Mumbai on June 24 , 2002 due to a major “brain stroke” suffered by him. This was the second stroke, the first one had occurred in the year February 1986 and had kept his right hand paralyzed. He was in a state of coma for more than week. A battery of highly efficient doctors were unable to save his life. He breathed his last on July 6 , 2002 , at around 11:50 P.M.(Indian Standard Time). His funeral procession was not only attended by business people, politicians and celebrities but also by thousands of ordinary people. His elder son Mukesh Ambani performed the last rites as per the Hindu traditions. He was cremated at the Chandanwadi Crematorium in Mumbai at around 4:30 PM (Indian Standard Time) on July 7 , 2002 . He is survived by Kokilaben Ambani, his wife, two sons, Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani , and two daughters, Nina Kothari and Deepti Salgaocar .

Film A film inspired by the life of Dhirubhai is set to

release in January 2007. The Hindi Film Guru , directed by Mani Ratnam and music by A.R.Rahman will show the struggle of a man who strives to make his mark in life. The movie stars Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai in leading roles. 

Awards and Recognitions November 2000 – Conferred ‘Man of the Century’

award by Chemtech Foundation and Chemical Engineering World in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the growth and development of the chemical industry in India 2000 , 1998 and 1996 – Featured among ‘Power 50 – the most powerful people in Asia by Asiaweek magazine. June 1998 – Dean’s Medal by The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania , for setting an outstanding example of leadership. August 2001 – The Economic Times Award for Corporate Excellence for Lifetime Achievement Dhirubhai Ambani was named the Man of 20th Century by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). A poll conducted by The

Famous Quotes  His success in the petro-chemical business and his story of rags to

riches made him a cult figure in the minds of Indian people. As a quality of business leader he was also a motivator. He gave very less of public speeches but the words he has spoken are still remembered for their value. “Growth has no limit at Reliance. I keep revising my vision. Only when you dream it you can do it.” “Our ambitions high Think big, think fast, think ahead. Ideas are no one’s monopoly” “Our dreams have to be bigger. Our commitment deeper. And our efforts greater. This is my dream for Reliance and for India.” “You do not require an invitation to make profits.” “If you work with determination and with perfection, success will follow.” “Pursue your goals even in the face of difficulties, and convert adversities into opportunities.” “Give the youth a proper environment. Motivate them. Extend them the support they need. Each one of them has infinite source of energy. They will deliver.” “Between my past, the present and the future, there is one common factor: Relationship and Trust. This is the foundation of our growth” “We bet on people.” “Meeting the deadlines is not good enough, beating the deadlines is my expectation.” “Don’t give up, courage is my conviction.”

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Growth through Vision Growth has no limit at Reliance. I keep revising

my vision. Only when you can dream it, you can do it.” “Between my past, the present and the future, there is one common factor: Relationship and Trust. This is the foundation of our growth.” - Dhirubhai H. Ambani 

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