Dhirubhai Ambani: December 28 marks the birth anniversary of Dhirubhai Ambani, the visionary industrialist who founded Reliance Industries and reshaped India’s private sector landscape. Born in 1932, Ambani rose from modest beginnings to build one of the country’s largest conglomerates, leaving behind a legacy defined by ambition, innovation, and belief in India’s economic potential.
From Small-Town Roots To Big-Time Business
Born in a small village in Gujarat to a schoolteacher, Dhirubhai Ambani began his working life at just 16, taking up a job as a dispatch clerk at A. Besse & Co. in Aden, Yemen. His years abroad sharpened his understanding of global trade and markets, laying the foundation for his entrepreneurial instincts.
He returned to India in 1958 and launched Reliance Commercial Corporation with an initial capital of ₹15,000. The firm initially focused on exporting spices and importing polyester yarn, marking the first step in what would become a business empire.
Building Reliance And Democratizing Wealth
A major breakthrough came in 1966 when Ambani set up Reliance’s first textile manufacturing unit near Ahmedabad and introduced the Vimal brand. By adopting backward integration, controlling raw materials, manufacturing, and distribution, Reliance gained a decisive competitive advantage, quickly making Vimal a household name.
In 1977, Ambani took Reliance Industries public, a landmark moment for India’s capital markets. The move brought tens of thousands of first-time retail investors into equity investing and earned him the reputation of pioneering India’s “equity cult.” His shareholder meetings, often held in large stadiums, symbolised his effort to make ownership accessible to ordinary Indians.
Expanding Into A Business Powerhouse
Under Ambani’s leadership, Reliance steadily expanded into petrochemicals, energy, power, telecommunications, retail, and information technology. By the time of his death in 2002, the group’s turnover had crossed ₹75,000 crore, making it one of India’s most influential corporate houses.
A Legacy That Endures
Dhirubhai Ambani is widely remembered as a nation builder whose enterprise played a significant role in India’s economic growth. His contribution to industry was formally recognised when he was posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2016. He was also named “Man of the 20th Century” by FICCI.
Even decades after his passing, Ambani’s life continues to inspire entrepreneurs across generations, guided by his enduring belief: “Think big, think fast, think ahead. Ideas are no one’s monopoly.”
