Dhirubai Ambani, a popular “Indian Business Magnet” is the founder of the “Reliance Group” of companies- one of the largest private sector groups of companies in India.

Even while studying in school Dhirubhai Ambani used to sell chips and chat items  to pilgrims in Mount Girnar at week-ends and supported his parents financially.

At the age of 16 years, after doing his matriculation, unable to continue his education, due to poverty,  Dhirubhai Ambani moved to Aden in Yemen and worked there as a ‘gas-station attendant’ and as a clerk in an oil company.

In the year 1958 Dhirubhai  Ambani  returned to India with  Rs 50,000 and set up a textile trading company.

In the year 1966 Dhirubhai Ambani set up his first textile mill at Naroda, near Ahmedabad  and introduced the Textiles -Brand "Vimal"-Suitings.

Dhirubhai Ambani along with his sons started the India’s largest private sector company, “Reliance India Limited” with the core specialization in petro-chemicals and diversified additional interests in the following fields :

• Telecommunications,
• Information technology,
• Energy,
• Power,
• Retail Businesses,
• Textiles,
• Infrastructure Services,
• Capital markets and Logistics.

In  the 1980’s Reliance Group became a favourite in the stock market with its innovative instruments, such as the "‘convertible debentures".

In 1992, the Reliance Group became the first Indian company to raise money in the global markets.

In the year 1986, Dhirubhai  Ambani handed over the “Reliance Group” of companies to his two  sons Mukesh Ambani  and Anil Ambani.

After Dhirubhai Ambani’s death the “Reliance Group” was split into the following two Groups:

• Reliance Industries Limited headed by Mukhesh Ambani  and 

• Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (Reliance ADAG) headed by Anil Ambani

Short Biography of Dhirubhai Ambani :

Name: Dhirajlal Hirachand Ambani

Known As: Dhirubhai Ambani

Father:Hirachand Gordhandhas Ambani- A School Teacher

Date of Birth: 28th December 1932

Date of Death: 6th July 2002 (at the age of 69 years)

Sons : Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani

Daughters: Nina Kothari and Deepti Salgaonka

Awards:

• Featured among “ Power 50-The Most Powerful People in Asia”- by Asia-week magazine – In the years 1996,1998 and  2000

• He  has the rare distinction of being the first Indian to get "Wharton School Dean's Medal" of the  University of Pennsylvania, for 'setting an outstanding example of leadership'-In the year 1998

• A poll conducted by The Times of India  voted him "Greatest Creator of Wealth In The Centuries"-In the year  2000

• 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 – In the year 2000

• Dhirubhai Ambani was named the "Man of 20th Century" by the eFederation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI-In the year 2000.

• Economic Times Awards for “Corporate Excellence for Lifetime Achievement”- August 2001

• Awarded posthumously the "ABLF Global Asian Award" at the 'Asian Business Leadership Forum Awards'-In October 2011

Quotes:
 "I am deaf to the word-'NO' "
"Think Big, Think Fast, Think Ahead. Ideas are no one’s monopoly”

-Dhirubhai Ambani