Entrepreneur Name: Dhirubhai Ambani

Entrepreneur Organisation: Reliance foundation

Introduction: Dhirajlal Hirachand Ambani, popularly known as Dhirubhai Ambani (28

December 1932 – 6 July 2002) was a successful Indian business tycoon who founded Reliance
Industries. Ambani took Reliance public in 1977 and was worth US $2.9 billion in 2002 upon his
death. In 2016, he was honoured posthumously with the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-
highest civilian honour for his contributions to trade and industry.

Early Career: Dhirubhai Ambani was one of the sons of Hirachand Gordhanbhai Ambani,
a village school teacher belonging to the Modh Baniya community and Jamnaben Ambani and
was born in Chorwad, Junagadh district, Gujarat on 28 December 1932. He did his studies from
Bahadur Khanji school. In his youth, he joined the protests against the Nawab of Junagarh and
organized many actions against the Nawab's plans to join Pakistan after independence.

His friends described him as someone who was affable yet ambitious, cheerful yet had a 'dark
side' because of his extreme ambition and risk taking. In Aden, his first son, Mukesh was born
to him in 19 April 1957. Another son, Anil, was born two years later in 1959.He left Aden in 1958
to try his hand at his own business in India in the textiles market .

Founding of Reliance Foundation: Ambani returned to India and started

"Majin" in partnership with Champaklal Damani, his second cousin, who lived with him in
Yemen. Majin was to import polyester yarn and export spices to Yemen. The first office of the
Reliance Commercial Corporation was set up at the Narsinatha Street in Masjid Bunder. It was
a 350 sq ft (33 m2) room with a telephone, one table and three chairs. Initially, they had two
assistants to help them with their business.At the tiny office, he began to make a team that
would stay with Reliance for years, which includes Rasikbhai Meswani (his nephew),
Ramnikbhai, Nathubhai (his younger brother) and two former schoolmates named Rathibhai
Mucchala and Narottambhai Joshi. They usually worked around the streets of Pydhonie.
Ambani Control over Stock Exchange:
Extensive marketing of the brand in the interiors of India made it a household name. Franchise
retail outlets were started and they sold the "Only Vimal" brand of textiles. In the year 1975, a
technical team from the World Bank visited the 'Reliance Textiles' Manufacturing unit.
In 1988, Reliance Industries came up against a rights issue regarding partly convertible
debentures. It was rumoured that the company was making all efforts to ensure that their stock
prices did not slide an inch. Sensing an opportunity, The Bear Cartel, a group of stock brokers
from Calcutta, started to short sell the shares of Reliance. To counter this, a group of stock
brokers until recently referred to as "Friends of Reliance" started to buy the short sold shares of
Reliance Industries on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Death:
Ambani was admitted to the Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai on 24 June 2002 after he
suffered a major stroke. It was his second stroke, the first had occurred in February 1986 and
had paralyzed his right hand. He was in a coma for more than a week and a number of doctors
were consulted. He died on 6 July 2002.

Awards:

 1996, 1998 and 2000– Featured among Power 50-the most powerful people
in Asia by Asiaweek magazine.
 June 15, 1998 – "Dean's Medal" by The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, for
setting an outstanding example of leadership. Dhirubhai Ambani was the first Indian to
receive the Dean's Medal
 November 8, 2000, Mumbai - 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.