Jitendra Awhad: “Chawl-eet-le tower”- Giant Industrialist Dhirubhai Ambani

Housing Minister Dr Jitendra Awhad in a literary tribute, expresses gratitude to Giant Industrialist late Dhirubhai Ambani for his contribution to the Nation

Dhirubhai, the Reliance Empire created from nothing, a “zero begining”, if one wants to understand it, he has to look into his History. Early days originates from Chawl in Bhuleshwar, from where he created his Empire. With a partnership investment of Rs 15,000, he started his business. Growing gradually, he rose to a business of thousands of crores, dominating the Business of the entire Country. Reliance assets today worth a modest “10 lakh crores with two lakh employees”.

Dhirubhai was from Business oriented Gujarat. District Junagad, village Chorwad was where he came from.Born on 28/12/1932. His father Harishchandra Ambani was a teacher, with 5 siblings. Dhirajlal being the third. He was just ordinary in school like others, English was good but surprisingly was poor in Mathematics. In 1949 after finishing his 10th standard , in the age of 16, went to Aden in Yemen. HIs Uncle Ramniklal was working there, with A. Bessi and Company. Uncle’s inflence got him a job there, worked as a despatch clerk for early two years. This Company became a part of Shell- Oil producing Company and Dhirubhai was transferred to a Oil filling station depot. He worked as a manager there, with a salary of Rs 300 per month. He started developing the need to establish his own Business, started grooming himself by visiting markets, understanding Business by interacting with Businessmen there.

In 1951 , Dhirubhai’s father Hirachand Ambani expired. With Mothers insistence in 1954 got married to Kokilaben Patel from Jamnagar. Dhirubhai even early preferred to have his own business rather than work for others. He wanted to establish his own independent Business, that also in India, he was determined about that. Finally in the year 31/12/1958, he left Aden for good and returned to India with his family. Champaklal Damani was his maternal uncle, entered into a partnership with him and an investment of Rs 15,000 opened an office in Masjid Bunder named it Reliance Commercial Corporation. One table, three chairs and a telephone was his assets, Masala products and rayon clothes was his business. At that time he stayed in Jai Hind Estate Chawl, Bhuleshwar. There were 500 families living in that chawl, 3rd floor was where he resided. in present times it would be called an apartment. One small Hall, two bedrooms, one kitchen and bathroom is where the kids of Dhirubhai played, grew and blossomed. He stayed there for 10 years till 1968.

In the year 1966, Dhirubhai opened a technologically advanced Textile Unit. Year 1971, proved to progressive year for Dhirubhai. The Indian Govt import-export policies were favorable, Dhirubhai taking advantage of that started exports of his garment merchandise  to Russia, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Zambia, Uganda and other Countries. In 1977 he made “Reliance” a Public Limited Company. He was the first Industrialist who involved the small investors in participating in Equity. 58 thousand retail investors invested in his project. In the year 1978, Dhirubhai entered full-fletched in the textile business. He started the brand “Vimal” branding his textiles. During the year 1977 to 1980 on an average of one showroom per day, he opened up Vimal Showrooms across the Country. In the year 1999-2000, in Jamnagar- Gujarat, He established the world’s biggest Refinery. During that period he also ventured into “Infocomm”. On 24/6/2002 he suffered a blood clot and paralytic attack. On 6/7/2002 Dhirubhai expired. Indian Corporate History lost a  legend.