Life and times of Dhirubhai Ambani

  • 28-12-1932—Born to a Mogh Bania family as the second son and fourth child of a teacher father.
  • 1949-1958—Went to Aden at the age of 17 after the death of his father discontinuing his studies. Worked as gas station attendent for A. Bessy & Co. a dealer of Burma Shell products. Rose to the post of General Marketing Manager. Become the father of elder son Mukesh on 19-4-1957.
  • 1958-1965—Returned to India. Set up Reliance Trading Company in Mumbai. Exported textiles and spices. Initially invested Rs. 15000 only.
  • 1966—As a first industrial venture founded Textile Mill at Naroda (Ahmedabad) and started work with 70 workers.
  • 1975—World Bank technical team visited Naroda Mill and certified it as a class enterprise of International standards.
  • 1977—Launched first Public Issue of Reliance Company starting Financial Equity culture in India. It proved a roaring success.
  • 1978—Reliance introduces its textile brand product ‘Vimal’ with much fanfare and unprecedented publicity. The Vimal Brand catches the imagination of the people and creates popularity records.
  • 1979—Came out with another Public Issue for starting a new ‘Worsted Textile Mill’ The issue was subscribed in no time. The small investors again put faith in him.
  • 1980—A public Issue launched again for modernisation of Taxtile Mill. Again over subscribed.
  • 1980—A new 110 crore project was announced to use the capital raised for Fibres accessory units in Patalganga project.
  • 1980-1982—Dhirubhai’s detractors and rivals remained active. Many conspiracies against him and his companies were hatched. The Bear share brokers tried to pull down Reliance share prices through a short-selling game plan. Dhirubhai got his shares bought enblock by friendly brokers to prevent the crash. He succeeded.
  • 1983—Dhirubhai was accused of buying his own shares through bogus companies in ‘Isle of Man’ A probe was held but he was found innocent. There was nothing to pin on him.
  • 1985—Rasikbhai Meswani, his brother-in-law and a capable executive of Reliance passed away. The loss was irreparable. Corporate war with Nusli Wadia of Bombay Dyieng began. Some decisions of then finance minister, V.P. Singh also caused huge losses to his industrial house.
  • 1986—Healthwise the year was traumatic for Dhirubhai Ambani. He was struck with a paralytic attack and had be taken to New York for treament. In his absence some projects slowed down or faced other hurdles. The profits of Reliance dipped down.
  • 1987—His sons took over most of his responsibilities. It was a big relief for Dhirubhbai and a cause for pride and satisfaction. The two brothers successfully completed and commissioned Polyster Staple Fibre and Purified Teupltholic Acid units at Patalganga project.
  • 1988—That year Dhirubhai’s great ambition was fulfilled. His plants started production of Fibre intermediate and chemicals. He gained management control over public undertaking Larsen & Tubro. It was a hugely prestigious posting as Chairman. Public Issue of Reliance Petrochemicals was launched for subscription. A record 2 million small investors applied.
  • 1989—Patalganga Complex suffered damages due to heavy floods.
  • 1990—In changed political scenario anticipating troubles he resigned from the chairmanship of ‘Larsen & Tubro.’
  • 1991—Dhirubhai succedded in realising one other major dream of his. Rs. 9000 crore Hajira Project commissioned its first plant to the envy of his rivals and dismay of detractors.
  • 1992—Public issue to raise a capital of Rs. 325 crores for Reliance Polypropelence Ltd. and Reliance Polyethelene Ltd. was lauched. In this very year Reliance Group became first business and industrial house of India that started earning money from abroad through GDR.
  • 1993—Reliance entered distribution business as supplier of PVC and plastics.
  • 1994—The output capacity of Hajira Petrochemicals Complex was reviewed and increased to 6 million metric tons a years. Work on it was started at once without any delay.
  • 1995—The scandal of Reliance bogus shares broke out and inquiry was held.
  • 1996—SSP and Moodies included Reliance Group in ‘World Class Industrial Houses’ list. It was the first honour for an Indian private sector company.
  • 1997—Reliance Industries commissions world’s biggest ‘Multifeed Petrochemicals Cracker’ at its Hajira facility. Reliance became Asia’s first company raise a loan of Rs. 100 crores. The group also started Cellular Services from this year in the country.
  • 1998—The worth of assests of Reliance Group of Industries crosed Rs. 35,000 crores and the earning figures rose above Rs. 14,000 crores.
  • 1999—World’s largest oil refinery was commissioned in the form of Jamnagar Refinery Complex. It was the proud moment for Dhirubhai Ambani and the entire nation.
  • 2000—Reliance announced three ambitious new venture in communications field namely Reliance Infocom, Reliance Telecom and Reliance Communications. Reliance projects made improvements. Worth of its assests crossed Rs. 50,000 crores mark and output figrues went above Rs. 20,000 crores.
  • 2001—‘Reliance Life Science’ chapter was started.
  • 2002—RPL was merged into RIL, in the same year Reliance Group aquired IPCL, a public sector undertaking.
  • July 6, 2002—India lost its brilliant entrepreneur, Dhirubhai Ambani. He breathed his last in Breach Candy Hospital of Mumbai. A dream came to an end. But his dream projects remain to remind us of his economic and industrial vision.

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