Dhirubhai Ambani death anniversary: Know lesser-known facts about Indian business tycoon

One of India's biggest Business tycoon Dhirubhai Ambani lost his life on 6 July, 2002 after suffering a major stroke. Ambani was admitted to the Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai on 24 June 2002 after he suffered a major stroke. It was his second stroke, the first had occurred in February 1986 and had paralyzed his right hand. He was in a coma for more than a week and a number of doctors were consulted.

Ambani founded Reliance Industries which he took public in 1977 and was worth US$2.9 billion in 2002 upon his death.

In 2016, he was honoured posthumously with the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour for his contributions to trade and industry

Dhirubhai Ambani's entrepreneurial journey began when his family relocated to Mumbai due to political turbulence in Aden. Having returned to India around 1958, the family initially stayed in a chawl in the Bhuleshwar neighbourhood of then-Bombay.

1. He started his first entrepreneurship by selling chaat-pakoda to pilgrims at Mount Girnar in Gujarat.

2. Dhirubhai Ambani was only 17 when he migrated to the then British colony of Aden, where his brother was working. He worked at A. Besse & Co. as a clerk and earned a salary of just Rs 300 per month.

3. His company was named and renamed often. First, he named his company Reliance Commercial Corporation then renamed it Reliance Textiles Pvt. Limited and finally to Reliance Industries Limited.

4. Dhirubhai Ambani founded Reliance Industries in 1977. The first office of the Reliance Commercial Corporation was set up at Narsinatha Street in Masjid Bunder. It was a 350 sq ft (33m2) room with a telephone, one table and three chairs.

5. Under his leadership, Reliance Industries became the first Indian privately-owned company to be rated by international credit rating agencies such as S&P, Moody’s etc.

6. Dhirubhai Ambani was conferred with the Man of the Century award by Chemtech Foundation and Chemical Engineering World. He was also felicitated with The Economic Times award for Corporate Excellence for Lifetime achievement in 2001.

7. Dhirubhai Ambani became the first Indian to receive the Wharton School Dean's Medal, University of Pennsylvania. He was also featured on the 'Power 50 - the most powerful people in Asia' list by Asia Week magazine.