The Ambani family is one of the most affluent business clans in the world. But despite all the wealth and fame, they are hailed for their humbleness. Ambanis' multi-billion business empire stands as a testament to their hard work and determination. Behind such a successful venture stands the patriarch of the family, Dhirubhai Ambani, who, with his business acumen, built Reliance Industries.
Born as Dhirajlal Hirachand Ambani, Dhirubhai Ambani made a name for himself in the business world with his hard work and intelligence. From an errand runner to a small firm in Yemen to finally one of the biggest multinationals today, Dhirubhai’s life has always been inspirational. The love and respect that the 'Ambani family' receives today is all because of Dhirubhai Ambani.
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While Dhirubhai Ambani is the man behind Reliance Industries' success, his soulmate, Kokilaben Ambani, supported him throughout his ups and downs. The matriarch of the family, Kokilaben played a vital role in her husband's success. Let us read about some unknown aspects of Dhirubhai Ambani and Kokilaben Ambani’s married life.
When Dhirubhai Ambani strived hard to become one of the top leaders, his wife, Kokilaben Ambani became his biggest support. The simple lady from Jamnagar never let success, fame and money get on the heads of her children. In a rare interview with Mid-Day, Kokilaben Ambani revealed that she spent her childhood in Jamnagar, doing household chores in her middle-class family.
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Dhirubhai Ambani and Kokilaben Ambani got married in 1955. In the same interview, she revealed that her life changed drastically after her wedding to Dhirubhai Ambani. It was only during their marriage that she stepped out of her house and travelled to different places with her husband, Dhirubhai. Her life in Aden was opposite to that in Jamnagar and throughout every juncture, it was Dhirubhai Ambani who was her guide.
After her marriage to Dhirubhai Ambani, Kokilaben lived with her in-laws in Chorwad, Dhirubhai’s birthplace. While she lived in Chorwad, he expanded his business while staying in Aden. However, despite the long distance, the duo kept the spark in their marriage alive. He would write letters to Kokilaben, and she would eagerly wait for them.
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In the same interview with Mid-Day, Kokilaben heaped praises on Dhirubhai Ambani’s sense of humour. Recalling an anecdote from their early married life when Kokilaben used to live in Chorwad, she shared:
“Dhirubhai had written a letter to me from Aden, which said, Kokila, I have bought a car and I will come to fetch you in that car. Can you guess what is the colour of the car? He then added, 'it is black, like me.' I liked his sense of humour the most. He came to pick me up in that car when I reached Aden. So it was a bullock cart at Chorwad, car at Aden and plane and helicopter in Mumbai."
Despite his traditional upbringing, Dhirubhai Ambani was way ahead of his time. He treated his wife, Kokilaben, as an equal partner and insisted she accompany him everywhere. While making waves in the business world with the launch of Reliance, Kokilaben would accompany Dhirubhai at every plant inauguration, party or function. That is exactly how he wanted his better half to be. Speaking about the same to Mid-Day, Kokilaben stated that even when dignitaries came to their house, he would ask her to join him.
Kokilaben Ambani had studied in a Gujarati school and was not well-versed in the English language. However, Dhirubhai Ambani hired an English tutor for his wife so that she would learn the language and converse with others. He would also take her to five-star hotels to try different cuisines. Revealing how he moulded her, Kokilaben shared:
“Even though I had studied in a Gujarati school, I had started learning English immediately after coming to Mumbai. This was also thanks to Dhirubhai's foresight. A tutor used to come in to teach English to the children. Dhirubhai said, Kokila why don't you learn English? I jumped at the suggestion. He would take me to five-star hotels so that I could cultivate a taste for Chinese, Mexican, Italian and Japanese cuisine. Even when we went abroad, he would fill me in with information about the places we visited and even asked me to read about them. In short, he moulded me so well, that I would not feel out of place anywhere. I constantly adapted to change."
Despite being a workhorse, Dhirubhai Ambani always had time for his family. He brought out the best in his children as he always gave them space to grow and shine on their own. Kokilaben Ambani once revealed that Dhirubhai Ambani often took time, usually over dinner, to update himself on what his children were doing. Over the years, Mukesh Ambani admitted in various interviews that his father was his biggest inspiration, who not only moulded him into the person he is today but also gave him the confidence to achieve his dreams.
Also Read: When Dhirubhai Ambani Played Matchmaker For Mukesh Ambani And Nita Ambani
On February 16, 1986, Dhirubhai Ambani suffered his first cerebral stroke and his right hand was paralysed. Following the stroke, he handed Reliance Industries to his sons, Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani. On July 6, 2002, Dhirubhai Ambani bid adieu to the world after suffering his second stroke.
Dhirubhai Ambani died without any clear succession plan or will for his sons, Mukesh and Anil, which led to a clash of thoughts between the brothers. This led to the division of Reliance Group equally between the two brothers. While Mukesh flourished in his business, Anil became bankrupt. It was Kokilaben Ambani who made a settlement amongst the brothers, and the two entered into a peace pact.
Kokilaben had advised her sons, Mukesh and Anil, to bury the hatred and reunite to make their father proud. Addressing a press conference, Kokilaben revealed that there was no rivalry between her sons. In her words:
“There is love among the brothers. Hum sab saath hain.”
In 2007, Kokilaben Ambani penned a book on Dhirubhai Ambani, titled, Dhirubhai Ambani: The Man I Knew in the English version and Dhirubhai Ambani: Maara Jeevan Sathi in the Gujarati edition. In the book, Kokilaben described Dhirubhai as a man who was much more than the world knew.
Dhirubhai Ambani was not just a business tycoon but a doting husband who did everything to make his wife, Kokilaben, feel special. The way he encouraged her to learn English and accompany him everywhere is the reason behind his success.
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