Wharton honours India's biggest wealth creator

The Wharton Business School honoured the late Dhirubhai Ambani by dedicating a state-of-the-art auditorium in his memory. Dhirubhai will continue to inspire and motivate many more young and daring minds, not just from India but from across the world, believes his wife Kokilaben Ambani who inaugurated the auditorium.The Ambanis have been associated with the Wharton Business School for generations.Paying rich tributes to Dhirubhai Ambani, Kokilaben Ambani, widow of Dhirubhai Ambani, took the centrestage at Wharton Business School on Monday as the premier institution dedicated an auditorium to the memory of her husband. The 300-seater-auditorium in Jon M Huntsman Hall at Wharton, christened Dhirubhai Ambani Auditorium, has been made possible thanks to a 'multi-million-dollar' gift by Anil Ambani, son of the late industrialist and now chairman of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group."It is my hope and desire that the naming of this auditorium (after my late husband) will inspire and motivate many more young and daring minds, not just from Dhirubhai's beloved India but from across the world to learn from his outstanding example, to think ahead, to think fast, and most of all, to bring greater prosperity to humanity," Kokilaben Ambani said in voice choked with emotion at the hour-long event.
Dhirubhai's widow Kokilaben Ambani took a journey down memory lane reminiscing how her children and grandchildren are associated with the institute."Yesterday, as a proud grandmother, I saw Vikram, the eldest of my nine grand children graduate from the Wharton School. But today's event is even bigger and more special. Today, I am a very proud wife and even a prouder Indian as we commemorate the life and legacy of one of the world's greatest wealth creators of the modern era, my husband, the late Dhirubhai Ambani," she said.Dressed in a yellow sari, the 70-year-old matriarch of the Ambani family was emotional as she visited the hallowed portals of Wharton after a gap of 25 years. She had come here earlier to see her son Anil, then a graduate student at Wharton."Yes, I feel very emotional today. Dhirubhai did so much of good work for the community,' she told rediff.com.
It has been a privilege for the Ambanis to be at the Wharton. A tradition started by Anil Ambani will continue over the years, with his son Anmol also joining the School, Kokilaben said."There have been three generations of (the Ambanis) involvement with Wharton. First came Anil, then came Raj (son-in-law Dattaraj Salgaocar) and then Vikram (Salgaocar's son) and Anil's son Anmol will also come," she said. "So generations of people will come and get inspired. It is such a good opportunity to come to Wharton," she said.About 20 people, most of them faculty members of Wharton, including Dean Patrick Harker, associate dean Jeff Sheen, and Prof Jitendra Singh, besides the Ambani family members that comprised Tina Ambani, wife of Anil Ambani, Dhirubhai's daughter Dipti and her husband Dattaraj Salgaocar, and three grand children listened deferentially to the brief speech of the 70-year-old matriarch of the Ambani family.Both Salgaocar and Tina Ambani seemed to take the back seat as they urged Kokilaben Ambani to speak about Dhirubhai's association with Wharton, his life and what he dreamt of in terms of both India and the company he founded. Kokilaben being ushered into The Wharton Business School in Philadelphia on Monday
Lauding Kokilaben Ambani for her efforts in inspiring and encouraging Dhirubhai Ambani soar to enviable heights, son-in-law Dattaraj Salgaocar said it was indeed a privilege to introduce his mother-in-law. She is a woman of substance and has been the pillar of love, strength, and support to her husband and her children, more so to the family after his untimely demise in 2002."She was born in 1934 in a small village in Jamnagar. By next year, Reliance will have the largest grassroots refinery in the world in Jamnagar."This remarkable lady with no formal education but outstanding qualities and great intelligence has encouraged and inspired the foremost wealth-creator in India. She is also very businesses savvy and a great investor and involved in many social and religious causes," he said before inviting his mother-in-law to the podium. Kokilaben being handed over a book on Dhirubhai Ambani at The Wharton Business School in Philadelphia on Monday
Tina Ambani was at her vivacious best as she recollected fond memories at the Wharton School, where she first met Anil Ambani.Tina began her remarks with 'respected mummyjee' as she paid respects to the memory of Dhirubhai Ambani. "It is a solemn moment for me and it is also special as this is taking place in Wharton an institution with which I have enjoyed an exceptional relationship over the last 20 years," she said."As many of you know my father-in-law, the legendary Dhirubhai Ambani, was awarded the Dean's medal in 1998 for revolutionising the concept of investing in India, creating value and wealth for shareholders. He was the first Indian to receive such an honour. But what is less known is that it was here that I first met my husband Anil," she said."It was in the summer of 1982, I met with Anil just after mummy (Kokilaben) left (after visiting Anil Ambani, then a graduate student at Wharton)," the erstwhile Bollywood actress said. Anil Ambani's wife Tina Ambani gets a copy of the book on Dhirubhai Ambani
The next generation of Ambanis are already gearing up to follow their father's footsteps. "I must say that matters of heart are clearly not ignored at Wharton and this is for the future generation to know," Tina Ambani said with a chuckle."I wish when the time comes for making big academic decisions, my sons Anmol and Anshul, who are here with me today, will choose Wharton over other schools and of course prove themselves deserving of a place here."For Anmol and Anshul, and millions of young men and women in India, Dhirubhai's life is an inspiration. I hope that today's commemoration also inspires young people outside India to learn from his life and legacy,' she said."Visionaries like Dhirubhai do not belong to any nation or people or family. They belong to the world. On behalf of Anil and my family I thank you all." Kokilaben amidst Wharton officials and guests
The Wharton School honoured Dhirubhai by naming the new auditorium after him. Kokilaben cut the blue-ribbon to ceremoniously inaugurate the new auditorium. Dean Harker in his introductory remarks paid a glowing tribute to Ambani as he expressed the school's gratitude for the wonderful gift."He was a true pioneer in the development of the Indian economy, opening opportunity to thousands of his fellow citizens through his then-innovative public stock offerings," he said."We are honoured to have this outstanding opportunity to pay lasting tributes to Mr Ambani and the companies he built, and the important role he played in India's economic growth, and we are grateful to his son Anil for choosing to remember him in this meaningful way," he said.Kokilaben, along with family, cuts the blue-ribbon to inaugurate the new auditorium named after her late husband Dhirubhai Ambani was awarded the prestigious Dean's Medal from the Wharton School in 1998. As the 24th recipient of this honour, Ambani was recognised for his work as chairman of Reliance Industries, and for his role in revolutionising the concept of investing in India through the creation of wealth and value for millions of shareholders.Anil Ambani got his MBA from Wharton in 1983 and currently serves as a member of the Board of Overseers. "Imagine 50 years from now when India becomes one of the leading economies of the world, not just in purchasing power parity, but in real dollar terms and by that time tens of thousands of students would have walked through the halls of Wharton. imbibing Dhirubhai Ambani's legacy, the Reliance saga and India's great success story. By dedicating this auditorium to him today, we honour Dhirubhai and his memories," Prof Jitendra Singh said. Friends and family remember Dhirubhai Ambani, the legend