Billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani announced a grant of Rs 151 crore without any conditions to his alma mater, the Institute of Chemical Technology in Mumbai. Ambani graduated from ICT in the 1970s. He spent over three hours on Friday at ICT, which was earlier called the University Department of Chemical Technology (UDCT). Ambani attended a function to publish Professor MM Sharma’s biography, ‘Divine Scientist’.
Crediting the rise of the Indian chemical industry to Sharma’s efforts, Ambani, in his speech, referred to him as ‘a Rashtra Guru – a Guru of Bharat’. While speaking of ‘Guru Dakshina’, Ambani announced the unconditional grant of Rs 151 crore to ICT according to the instructions of 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’,” Ambani recalled.
Ambani recalled the first lecture that he attended at UDCT by Professor Sharma, which motivated him a lot. He also mentioned how Professor Sharma played a silent role of being an architect to India’s economic reforms. “Like my father Dhirubhai Ambani, he had a burning desire to change Indian industry from scarcity to global leadership,” said Ambani, adding that “these two bold visionaries believed that science and technology, in alliance with private entrepreneurship, would open the floodgates of prosperity”.
Mukesh remembers Prof. Sharma’s role
In his speech, Mukesh Ambani recounted how his Professor Sharma approached the then Petroleum Secretary Lovraj Kumar and the Petroleum Minister, arguing that reserving the chemical industry solely for the public sector was “stupid” and advocating for its opening.
Sharma further stressed that “Brand India” needed global recognition. Ambani noted that his father’s “credible and authoritative” voice led officials to accept his advice.
Five decades later, this vision has materialised, with India’s chemical industry becoming a global powerhouse. For this reason, Ambani honored Professor M.M. Sharma, calling him not just a personal mentor, but a “Rashtra Guru” or “Guru of Bharat” (a national teacher).
(With PTI Inputs)
