Mukesh Ambani donates Rs 151 crore to alma mater ICT Mumbai as ‘guru dakshina’ in honour of Professor MM Sharma

Mukesh Ambani. File Pic

Industrialist Mukesh Ambani announced an unconditional grant of Rs 151 crore to the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai, on Friday. It is the same institute from where Ambani had completed his graduation in the 1970s.

The Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries spent over three hours at the institute for an event to launch Professor M.M. Sharma's biography titled 'Divine Scientist'.

At ICT, which was previously called the University Department of Chemical Technology (UDCT), he recalled how the first lecture he attended by Prof Sharma motivated him, further stressing on the latter's role as a quiet architect of India's economic reforms.

Prof Sharma impressed upon the policymakers that the only way for the country to grow was to unshackle Indian industries from license-permit-raj, which would empower Indian players to build scale, reduce dependence on imports and compete globally.

"Like my father Dhirubhai Ambani, he had a burning desire to change Indian industry from scarcity to global leadership," Ambani remarked, as reported by ANI.

Mukesh Ambani while speaking about Prof. MM Sharma said "He is a Rashtra Guru ─ a Guru of Bharat" and credited him for the growth of India's chemical industry. Referring to the idea of guru dakshina."

He further said, "These two bold visionaries believed that science and technology, in alliance with private entrepreneurship, would open the floodgates of prosperity."

In his speech, Ambani referred to Prof Sharma as "a Rashtra Guru - a Guru of Bharat," citing his contributions to the Indian chemical industry's growth.

Referring to the age-old Indian practice of 'guru dakshina', Ambani declared an unconditional grant of Rs 151 crore to ICT in accordance with the wishes of Prof Sharma.

"When he tells us something, we just listen. We don't think. He told me, 'Mukesh, you have to do something big for ICT,' and I am very pleased to announce that for Prof Sharma," Ambani said while referring to the grant.

(With ANI inputs)