Download Shri Adi Godrej, Chairman, Godrej Group of Companies

Shri Adi Godrej, Chairman, Godrej Group of Companies
Mukesh, Anil, Nita, Tina, other members of the Ambani family, ladies and gentlemen.
My association with Dhirubhai and the Ambani family goes back over 30 years when
we shared the same building, Usha Kiran. I realised way back then, that his vision
and passion went far beyond just business to the broader needs of the country,
turning India into a developed nation and addressing the issues with urgency.
He was gifted with a tremendous power of imagination. You could see his vision of
the great Indian dream. It was in these values that I had a newfound respect for him,
as did others who came into contact with him. Over the years he successfully
injected this fire into his sons, Mukesh and Anil.
What more can I say about an icon, a phenomenon, a visionary, about whom so
much has been said and written. In a career, most of which was spent before
liberalisation, in an environment which was basically inimical to private enterprise,
Dhirubhai went on to build a business which broke all vertical limits and has been
one of the fastest growing businesses any where in the world. Of a size, which has a
ratio of the home country’s GDP is perhaps the biggest in the world.
In Theodore Roosevelt’s words, “he dared mighty things.” From petrol pump
attendant to the world’s largest greenfield refinery, to the Fortune-500, he had the
audacity to dream big and the courage and determination to deliver. He has become
the benchmark for the whole nation. He was a great inspiration to entrepreneurs
throughout his life. Even in his death he will continue to provide courage, hope and
determination to the youth of our country to chase their dreams.
In conclusion, I would like to once again extend my condolences to the Ambani family
and wish Mukesh and Anil all the very best in carrying forward their father’s
tremendous legacy to even greater heights. India has lost one of her greatest sons.
May his soul rest in peace.