Mukesh Ambani Donates Rs 151 Crore To...

Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, has reportedly decided to donate Rs 151 crore to the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) in Mumbai. This announcement was made during an event celebrating the release of Professor MM Sharma's biography, 'Divine Scientist'. Ambani praised Professor Sharma as a "rashtra guru" for his significant contributions.

Ambani's Alma Mater

Ambani spent over three hours at ICT, formerly known as the University Department of Chemical Technology (UDCT), where he studied in the 1970s. He fondly recalled attending his first lecture by Professor Sharma, which inspired him greatly. Ambani credited Professor Sharma with being a quiet architect of India's economic reforms.

Professor Sharma played a pivotal role in convincing policymakers that India needed to free its industries from the restrictive license-permit-raj. This change would enable Indian businesses to scale up, reduce import reliance, and compete globally. Ambani likened Professor Sharma's vision to that of his father, Dhirubhai Ambani.

Visionary Leaders

Both Dhirubhai Ambani and Professor Sharma shared a strong desire to transform Indian industry from scarcity to global leadership. They believed that science and technology, combined with private entrepreneurship, could unlock prosperity for India. Mukesh Ambani highlighted this shared vision during his speech at the event.

Ambani referred to Professor Sharma as "a Rashtra Guru - a Guru of Bharat" for his efforts in advancing India's chemical industry. He emphasized that when Professor Sharma advises them on something important, they listen without hesitation. This respect led to the announcement of the generous grant for ICT.

Grant Announcement

The grant was announced as a form of 'Guru Dakshina', following Professor Sharma's instructions. Mukesh Ambani expressed his pleasure in fulfilling this request for ICT. "When he tells us something, we just listen. We don't think," said Ambani while announcing the grant.