The iconic business tycoon, Dhirajlal Hirachand Ambani a.k.a. Dhirubhai Ambani was born on December 28, 1932, and is known as one of the greatest entrepreneurs in India. He founded Reliance Industries on May 8, 1973, and it changed the Indian business community forever. With years of hard work and dedication, Dhirubhai Ambani made Reliance Industries dominate the textile, communications, power, and petroleum industries, and the rest is history.
The famous businessman, Dhirubhai Ambani was married to Kokilaben Ambani, and the much-in-love couple was blessed with four kids, Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani, Nina Kothari and Deepti Salgaocar. The businessman from Junagadh, Gujarat, not only contributed to India’s economy but also dominated the stock market like no one else. While everyone is aware of Dhirubhai Ambani’s success with Reliance Industries, there are still some hidden secrets about his life that aren’t known to a lot of people. So without further ado, let’s explore Dhirubhai Ambani’s unknown secrets!
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#1. Dhirubhai Ambani’s father, Hirachand Gordhanbhai Ambani’s profession
The Indian business tycoon, Dhirubhai Ambani’s life is an open book. But, while everyone is aware of his inspirational journey of becoming one of India’s biggest business tycoons, not many know much about the man behind his success. Yes! We are talking about Dhirubhai Ambani’s father, Hirachand Gordhanbhai Ambani. The doting father was a school teacher by profession in a small village.
#2. Dhirubhai Ambani worked at a gas station
Unarguably one of the biggest businessmen in this country, Dhirubhai Ambani had once worked as an attendant at a gas station. During his time in the British Colony of Aden, Dhirubhai Ambani worked at a gas station and earned his first salary there.
#3. Dhirubhai Ambani’s first salary was Rs. 300
When Dhirubhai Ambani was 17 years old, he migrated to the British Colony of Aden with high hopes and a spark to make something of his professional career. The businessman had joined his brother, Ramniklal Ambani, at the latter’s organisation, A. Besse & Co. During his time at the organisation, Dhirubhai Ambani had learnt a lot of business skills and didn’t receive any salary. However, after some time, Dhirubhai Ambani worked at a gas station, where he received his first salary, which was Rs. 300.
#4. Dhirubhai Ambani’s first entrepreneurial venture was selling street food at Mount Girnar
It is often stated that Dhirubhai Ambani was born to do business and there’s no denying in saying that it is rightly true. For instance, when he was in 10th standard, Dhirubhai Ambani started selling street food outside Mount Girnar in Gujarat. He was knowledgeable enough to set up his street food business outside Mount Girnar, targetting hundreds of pilgrims who used to visit there almost daily.
At such an early age, he was daring enough to start a street food business without any professional knowledge. However, it was an incredible learning experience for Dhirubhai Ambani as he had understood a lot of things about the general public’s taste and needs that eventually helped him when he set up Reliance Industries.
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#5. Dhirubhai Ambani renamed Reliance Industries multiple times
Reliance Industries Limited is one of the biggest names in the global market, but it isn’t the original name of the business conglomerate. The founder of Reliance Industries, Dhirubhai Ambani had chosen the name, Reliance Commercial Corporation but later changed it to Reliance Textile Private Limited. However, the entrepreneur wasn’t quite convinced with the name and got third time lucky as he changed the name to Reliance Industries Limited one last time, and the rest is history.
#6. Dhirubhai Ambani’s first office was a 350 Sq. Ft. room
The founder of Reliance Industries, Dhirubhai Ambani’s first office was a 350 Sq. Ft. Room. The iconic businessman had set up his office in Masjid Bunder, Mumbai. With two tables, three chairs, and one telephone, he had started his inspirational journey that is nothing less than a Bollywood film.
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#7. Dhirubhai Ambani left studies after 10th standard
It is remarkable when we realise that Dhirubhai Ambani left his studies after the 10th standard, and everything he had achieved in his life was due to the work he had done on the ground level. From selling street food to working at a gas station, Dhirubhai Ambani had never taken any of his jobs lightly, which was his biggest strength.
#8. Dhirubhai Ambani worked for free at a trading firm in Gujarat
From the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey, Dhirubhai Ambani was passionate about trading. To know it inside out, he worked for free in a trading firm in Gujarat. However, no one would’ve thought that the young man working for free at a trading firm would one day rule the Indian stock market. Truly! Dhirubhai Ambani’s rise to success is a piece of motivation.
#9. Dhirubhai Ambani used to have tea at expensive restaurants to learn more about business
One of the most unusual ways for Dhirubhai Ambani to learn more about business was to have tea at expensive restaurants. The idea behind his creative method was that he used to visit expensive restaurants to have tea because that was where rich people used to hang out. Thus, he used to interact with them and extract as much information and knowledge about business as possible.
#10. Dhirubhai Ambani returned to Gujarat for his marriage with Kokilaben
When Dhirubhai Ambani was leading the headlines in Mumbai, the founder of Reliance Industries had returned to his hometown in Gujarat for his marriage. As per the reports, Dhirubhai Ambani was quite strict about following his rituals and roots, which is why despite being such a prominent entrepreneur, he got married to Kokilaben Ambani in his hometown instead of Mumbai.
The founder of Reliance Industries, Dhirubhai Ambani, will always be an inspiration for every Indian, who wants to become a businessman and has no prior experience in it.
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