...................................................................................Dhirubhai Ambani

 I dream of Mumbai. . . Dhirubhai Ambani 

Photofeature

To most people, business legend Dhirubhai Ambani with his grand empire, Reliance Industries, seems unreachable - a position most enviable. Few are aware of the trials and tribulations he has gone through, the time it took to hone his business instincts, or the sweat and toil behind the Reliance empire.

Today, the Reliance Group is India's largest business house with a total revenue of Rs 50,415 crore, assets of Rs 52,1000 crore and a net worth of Rs 22,415 crore. The Group's activities span textiles, synthetic fibres, fibre intermediates, petrochemicals, oil & gas production, refining, power, telecom and infocom. While the world is looking the IT way, this futuristic company with its visionaries has perceived the future - bio-technology.

Man of the Century, Indian Entrepreneur of the 20th Century, Most Admired Indian of the millennium, the Legend, Creator of Wealth, Outstanding Visionary, Business Man of the Century, Star of Asia - there are few titles he has not been awarded. A shrewd businessman he might be to his competitors, but to his family, he is 'a father figure they love and cherish.' Married to Kokilaben, Ambani has 4 children: two sons -- Mukesh, who is vice-chairman and managing director, and Anil, managing director of Reliance Industries, and two daughters -- Dipti Salgaocar who lives in Goa, and Nina Kothari, who resides in Chennai.

Dhirubhai Ambani, during a civic reception in Mumbai, talks on his journey of life, the city he loves, the friends he can never forget, and the secret of strong human bonds.

I was born in Gujarat

I was born in Chorwad, a village in Saurashtra, Gujarat. When I was 17 years of age, I went to Aden (now a part of Yemen) and worked for A Besse & Co Limited, who were the sole selling distributors of Shell products. I returned to Mumbai in 1958.

I was reborn in Mumbai

Mumbai gave me opportunity when I looked for it. This city gave me the courage to face challenges and strength when difficulties came before that. It gave birth to the spirit that has moved me all my life, the spirit that beats in my heart.

People come to Mumbai with hopes and ambitions, from all over the country, both rich and poor, educated and uneducated. For those who can dream and dare, sky is the limit for what they can achieve. My life is a tribute to Mumbai's generous heart. I can never repay the debt I owe to Mumbai. My past was shaped by the city and I will join its people in shaping its future.

I began business with a table and chair

Like lakhs of people who come to this city every year, I came here forty two years ago. I began a new life modestly from Bhuleshwar in Jaihind Estate at Kalbadevi. I started my business career in Mumbai with a table and a chair paying rent of Rs 150/- per month and a care of telephone number. I can never forget my exciting days in the commodity market at Bhat Bazar. It sharpened my business instincts. Nor can I forget my years in the yarn market at Tamba Kantha, where I learnt about the textile trade.

When I needed money for setting up an industry, I went to the Bombay Stock Exchange. It was here that I learnt the process of generating wealth and creating assets. Here, I developed the basic philosophy of my life - to win people's trust and to share wealth.

I started my first company, Reliance Commercial Corporation, a commodity trading and export house. In 1966, I opened the textile mill in Naroda, Ahmedabad. In 1977, my company went public.

I believe in partnerships

I believe in partnerships between people and authorities, and between government, business and industry. We need this partnership not only for economic development, but also in the social sector. We all live and earn in Mumbai. Let us enter into a partnership to make this metropolis the best, not only in India, but an envy of other cities in the world.

I would like to do something for Mumbai's children

I would like young girls and boys of Mumbai to grow up to be leaders of the knowledge revolution. Computer education is the key to it and it should be made available to Mumbai's children on a large scale. This is possible only if schools run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) can provide computers to children in their classrooms.

To make a beginning, Reliance Infocom will arrange for computer education and training for these children. The first phase will cover 31 secondary schools. This will benefit 68,000 children. The second phase will cover five thousand upper primary schools. This will benefit three and a half lakh children. Reliance will implement this scheme with Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. It is a small gesture from me. I hope this will mark a beginning in bringing computer education to the children oif our city, especially those who cannot afford it.

My dream

I dream of a Mumbai where there is no pollution. A Mumbai with free-flowing traffic. A Mumbai with clean localities and comfortable houses.

By: Anupama Vinayak

|