Dhirubhai Ambani:

A Great Phenomenon
-Parimal Nathwani
Dhirubhai Ambani was an institution; a phenomenon of our times who influenced the
psyche and life of hundred thousands of people across the globe. He was full of ideas and
was bubbling with energy like a young man to always do something better and bigger.
Dhirubhai Ambani had great expectations from youths of our country. In response to one
of his felicitations in mid-nineties, he said if one Dhirubhai could this much, country
possessed several thousands of youths who could be future Dhirubhai. He said youths
have tremendous ideas and untapped energy. Youths could shape future of the country, if
given reigns and chance. That is why, perhaps he employed his own siblings and
hundreds of talented and skilled young boys and girls under him and subjected them to
greater tasks of their times.
He used to say ideas were nobodys monopoly. While he believed in the best of
education, he always said in his typical colloquial language that educated did not mean
being a book-worm but one has to be innovative, ambitious, practical and pragmatist
(maannas maatra bhannelo nahi pann gannelo hovo jaruri chhe).
Dhirubhai knew the real worth of polyester against other popular synthetic fibers and
yarns viz nylon, rayon etc in vogue at that time. Even in terms of size of industries and
business, Dhirubhai totally transformed the traditional focus of Indian society from small
scale to minimum economies of scale (MES). He had foreseen in 80s itself that the
worlds economy was opening up and Indian industry would require to compete
internationally.
He made his petrochemical and petroleum planning on these lines; created world-class
industrial complexes, focused on advance technologies and international quality of
products and services. While he would not mind investing extra in man-power and manhours, meticulous planning and details; but would insist for best of the things and faster
implementation on other hand. That would provide him an edge and would make his
ROIs faster. Shri Mukeshbhai Ambani imbibed and pursued his style and ideology.

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Dhirubhai was as innovative in non business areas as he was in carrying out his business.
He didnt limit himself to direct and one-time charity but created a sustainable and longdrawn road-map in the areas of education, health, village development, etc.1998 cyclone
and 2001 earthquake were the two calamities that shook Saurashtra-Kutch. Besides
normal charity of food, clothes, shelter etc; Dhirubhai employed his engineering and
management resources to combat these crisis. It is perhaps unheard in the history that an
industrial house would move along with its hundreds of heavy engineering equipment,
machinery and man-power in an area where it had no immediate interest of business or
otherwise. But, that was Dhirubhai; the institution in himself, a great phenomenon of our
times.

(Mr. Parimal Nathwani is Group President of Reliance Industries Limited and a rajya
sabha member)

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