The story of Reliance is one from rags to riches. Dhirubhai Ambani was born into a lower-middle class family in Gujarat. His parents could not afford his education. So, Dhirubhai left home for the British Colony of Aden in search of work. He began his career as a clerk, pumping gas at a service station and later worked as a marketing manager.
In 1958, he returned to India to start a business of his own. He began with exports, primarily spices and fabrics. He lived in a slum in Mumbai back then. He was not late to realize the potential of the rising textile industry and his business focus shifted to textile yarns. With the launch of the fabric brand Vimal, he achieved success and by 1966, Dhirubhai Ambani founded the Reliance Commercial Corporation.
What Ambani started grew to be one of India’s largest private-sector companies with holdings in financial services, petroleum refining, communications, retailing and power. Dhirubhai passed on the business to his sons, Mukesh and Anil Ambani. A split between the two resulted in a business divide in 2006.
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