Mukesh Ambani Donates ₹151 Crore to ICT Mumbai in Honour of Prof. MM Sharma
In a heartfelt tribute to his mentor and one of India’s greatest chemical scientists, Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, announced an unconditional grant of ₹151 crore to his alma mater, the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai. The announcement was made during the launch of a biography on Professor MM Sharma, titled Divine Scientist.
A Tribute to a Rashtra Guru
The event, held at ICT (formerly known as UDCT – University Department of Chemical Technology), saw Ambani reminisce about his college days and the tremendous impact Prof. MM Sharma had on him. Ambani, who graduated from UDCT in the 1970s, credited his first lecture by Prof. Sharma as a defining moment in his life.
“Like my father, Dhirubhai Ambani, Prof. Sharma had a burning desire to transform Indian industry from one of scarcity to one of global leadership,” said Mukesh Ambani. He lauded Sharma’s role as a silent architect of India’s economic liberalization and a guiding force behind the rise of the Indian chemical industry.
Ambani praised Prof. Sharma for influencing policymakers to move away from the restrictive license-permit raj and championing reforms that allowed Indian industries to achieve scale, reduce import dependency, and compete globally. “These two visionaries—my father and Prof. Sharma—believed deeply that science and technology, when combined with private enterprise, could unlock national prosperity,” Ambani stated.
Grant of ₹151 Crore as Guru Dakshina
In what he referred to as a modern-day Guru Dakshina, Mukesh Ambani announced the grant as a gesture of deep respect and gratitude towards Prof. Sharma. The ₹151 crore contribution is one of the largest ever made to an academic institution by an alumnus in India.
“When he tells us something, we just listen. We don’t think,” said Ambani. “He told me, ‘Mukesh, you have to do something big for ICT.’ And I am very pleased to announce this grant in his honour.”
A Moment of Pride for ICT Mumbai
The three-hour-long event was not only a tribute to a teacher but also a proud moment for ICT Mumbai. The institution has long been a cradle of excellence alliance in chemical sciences and engineering, producing industry leaders like Mukesh Ambani. This grant is expected to significantly bolster the institute’s infrastructure, research, and innovation ecosystem.
Ambani’s contribution is also a recognition of the vital role educational institutions play in shaping leaders and the future of the nation. His gesture will likely inspire many other alumni across the country to give back and invest in India’s academic and scientific progress.
Mukesh Ambani’s ₹151 crore grant to ICT Mumbai stands as a shining example of guru-shishya tradition in modern India. More than just a donation, it is a symbolic act of gratitude, vision, and commitment to nurturing the future of Indian science and industry. It also reaffirms the deep connection between education, mentorship, and national development.
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