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Dhirajlal Hirachand Ambanialso known as Dhirubhai, (28 December 1932 6 July 2002) An Indian business magnate and entrepreneur who founded Reliance Industries, a petrochemicals, communications, power, and textiles Ambani took his company public in 1984. Dhirubhai has been one among the select Forbes billionaires and has also figured in the Sunday Times list of top 50 businessmen in Asia. His life has often been referred to as a true "rags to riches" story.

Early life

He was born into a Gujarati family. Hirachand Gordhandhas Ambani was a village school teacher with little income.Hirachand and Jamnaben had two daughters and three sons Dhirubhai was the second son.Dhirubhai was highly intelligent. He also do not like to learn lessons in the classroom.

Dhirubhai started off as a small time worker with Arab merchants in the 1950s moved to Mumbai in 1958 to start his own business in spices. After making modest profits, he moved into textiles and opened his mill near Ahmedabad. Dhirubhai founded Reliance Industries in 1958 and today the company, with over 85,000 employees, provides almost 5% of the Central Government's total tax revenue. Ambani was credited with introducing thestock market to the average investor, and thousands of investors attended the Reliance annual general meetings, which were sometimes held in a football stadium, with millions more watching on television\

Reliance Textiles

Sensing a good opportunity in the textile business, Dhirubhai and Aryan Mehra started the first textile mill at Naroda, in Ahmedabad in the year 1966.

Dhirubhai started the brand "Vimal"Extensive marketing of the brand "Vimal" in the interiors of India made it a household name. Franchise retail outlets were started and they used to sell "only Vimal" brand of textiles.

In 1986 after a heart attack he handed over Reliance Group to his sons Mukesh and Anil. After his death, the group was split intoReliance Industries, headed byMukesh AmbaniandReliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group(Reliance ADAG), led byAnil Ambani.

Diversification

In 1982 Ambani began the process of backward integration, setting up a plant to manufacture polyester filament yarn.

He subsequently diversified into chemicals, petrochemicals ,plastics, power.

The final phase of Reliances diversification occurred in the 1990s when the company turned aggressively towards petrochemicals and telecommunications.

He has been accused of having manipulated government policies to suit his own needs, and has been known to be a king-maker in government elections.

In popular media

Awards and recognitions

November 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 2000, 1998 and 1996 Featured among 'Power 50 - the most powerful people in Asia by Asiaweek magazine August 2001 Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence for Lifetime Achievement A poll conducted by The Times of India in 2000 voted Him "Greatest Creator of Wealth In The Centuries".

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