Mukesh Ambani Donates Rs 151 Crore To Alma Mater ICT Mumbai As 'Guru Dakshina'
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Hailing professor MM Sharma, Ambani reminisced about how the first lecture he attended at UDCT by the former had motivated him
Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani on Saturday announced an unconditional grant of Rs 151 crore to his alma mater—Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai—from where he graduated in the 1970s.
Ambani spent over three hours at ICT—which was back then called the University Department of Chemical Technology (UDCT)—at a function to publish professor MM Sharma's biography titled 'Divine Scientist'.
Ambani, reminiscing about how the first lecture he attended at UDCT by Sharma motivated him, said Sharma later played the role of the quiet architect of India's economic reforms, impressing upon policymakers that the only way for India to grow was to unshackle Indian industry from license-permit-raj which will allow 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," said the RIL chairman, adding: 'These two bold visionaries believed that science and technology, in alliance with private entrepreneurship, would open the floodgates of prosperity."
Crediting the rise of Indian chemical industry to Sharma's efforts, Ambani, in his speech, referred to him as 'a Rashtra Guru ─ a Guru of Bharat'. He then announced the unconditional grant of Rs 151 crore to ICT, according to the instructions of Sharma, terming it 'Guru Dakshina'.
'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 professor Sharma," Ambani said while referring to the grant.
Sharma, who joined UDCT as a professor at 27, has dedicated over six decades to teaching and research. His former students, many of whom went on to become pioneers in Indian science, recalled his influence and humility.
The event was held at ICT's Pidilite Hall and presided over by senior nuclear scientist Anil Kakodkar. Several eminent scientists, including Raghunath Mashelkar, J B Joshi, Aniruddha Pandit, and G D Yadav, paid tribute to Prof Sharma's legacy in education and science.
First Published:
June 07, 2025, 10:55 IST
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