Small room, 1 table, 3 chairs and a telephone: How Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani father Dhirubhai Ambani started Reliance with
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), one of India’s most prominent conglomerates, owes its remarkable journey to the visionary leadership of Dhirubhai Ambani, who laid the foundation of the company in 1958. Today, under the guidance of Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries has grown into a diversified powerhouse, operating across telecommunications (Jio), retail (Reliance Retail), energy, petrochemicals, and more.
The Humble Beginnings
The story of Reliance Industries started in a modest 350-square-foot office located in Mumbai’s bustling Pydhonie area. Established as Reliance Commercial Corporation in 1958, the company was initially a small trading venture dealing in commodities such as spices and polyester yarn. Dhirubhai Ambani started this venture with an initial investment of just Rs. 15,000—a small sum that became the seed capital for what would eventually become a multi-billion-dollar enterprise.
This modest office, equipped with a single table, three chairs, and one telephone, was the nucleus of Dhirubhai’s grand vision. Here, he meticulously crafted strategies and began assembling a team that would help propel Reliance to new heights. Among his earliest collaborators were his nephew Rasikbhai Meswani, his younger brother Ramnikbhai Nathubhai, and two close school friends.
Reliance Industries Limited and its original name
Dhirubhai Ambani’s vision for Reliance Industries took shape while he was living in Yemen with his second cousin, Champaklal Damani. During this time, the duo saw an opportunity to explore trade between Yemen and India. In the late 1950s, they launched a business to import spices and polyester yarn into Yemen, naming it Majin.
In the 1960s, Dhirubhai Ambani returned to India and, along with Champaklal Damani, renamed their business Reliance Commercial Corporation. They set up their first office in Mumbai’s Masjid Bunder locality with an initial investment of Rs. 15,000. This modest office, spread over just 350 square feet, marked the foundation of what would become one of India’s largest conglomerates.
The partnership dissolved in 1965, with Dhirubhai Ambani taking charge of the polyester business. A year later, in 1966, he founded Reliance Textiles Industries Pvt. Ltd. in Maharashtra
In 1977, Reliance made its first public offering, inviting investors to join its journey. This IPO not only raised capital but also established the company’s reputation as a trusted name in Indian business.
The Vision of Dhirubhai Ambani
Dhirubhai Ambani, born on December 28, 1932, in Chorwad, Gujarat, embodied the quintessential rags-to-riches story. His entrepreneurial journey was fueled by an unshakable belief in his dreams and a vision to create an enterprise that could transform India’s industrial landscape. With an acute understanding of market dynamics, he turned the fledgling company into a robust business entity, laying the groundwork for Reliance’s expansion into petrochemicals, textiles, and eventually, energy.
The Growth and Transformation
Today, Reliance Industries is based in Mumbai and stands as a symbol of Dhirubhai Ambani’s vision and hard work. The company is now one of the biggest employers in India and an important player in global markets, known for driving innovation and shaping the future of Indian business.
The Legacy Continues
Under Mukesh Ambani’s leadership, Reliance has made great progress, especially in telecommunications and digital services. Reliance Jio, a part of Reliance, changed India’s telecom industry by making internet access affordable and driving the country’s digital growth.
What started as a small trading office in Pydhonie has become one of the world’s most powerful businesses, built on hard work and a focus on innovation. Dhirubhai Ambani’s legacy continues to inspire people, showing how dreams, determination, and effort can turn small beginnings into great success.