Kokilaben Ambani, wife of Reliance Group founder Dhirubhai Ambani, arrived in Chorwad town of Gujarat’s Junagadh district along with Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant on Tuesday evening. Dhirubhai’s early life was spent in this town situated next to the Arabian Sea. After offering prayers at the local temple with her grandson and his fiancee, Kokilaben addressed the people of Chorwad. During this, Kokilaben narrated not only about the early life of her husband Dhirubhai Ambani but also the story of the beginning of the Reliance Group among the people of the village in a very touching and distinctive way. How Dhirubhai reached Aden, why he gave up his citizenship of Aden, how great was his love for India, how Reliance’s IPO was launched — Kokilaben shared everything. How close is the relationship between the three generations of the Ambani family with Jamnagar, where recently famous personalities from all over the world had gathered for Anant and Radhika’s three-day pre-wedding function — here’s all that and more in the words of Kokilaben herself.

Jai Shri Krishna!

Today is a day of great joy for us and the people of our village. First of all, Anant and Radhika came here to have darshan of Chorwadi Mata. It is natural for me to be happy about this. But the people of the village were also happy that when Anantbhai and Radhikaben are going to enter married life, they have come to see Chorwadi Mata first.

You all know that Dhirubhai and I got married in Chorwad itself, and it has been almost seventy years. Today is our wedding anniversary. It is a happy coincidence; today, on 12th March. Chorwadi Mata, all you members of the family from Chorwad are with us on this occasion. We are very happy about that.

You all know about Dhirubhai, that he had gone to Aden after his matriculation examination. The results came out after he reached Aden. He learnt that he had passed the exam. His father had sent this information. Dhirubhai had then smiled and said, “What difference does it make whether I have passed or failed? I have come to Aden for a job.”

Many years passed. One gets citizenship in Aden after seven years. You will not believe it, but the day after he received a letter from the office saying he had become a citizen, Dhirubhai responded that he was resigning. His elder brother Ramnikbhai said, “No, Dhiru, this is such a good job, you should not leave.” But he said, “No, I have to try my luck, I have to go to India.” His brother asked what he would do in India. He said that “whatever path God shows me, I will move forward on it. I have a feeling that I have to go to India and do something. What would I do? Whatever opportunity God gives me, I will proceed accordingly.” And with all your blessings, Dhirubhai gradually made progress.

More years went by. You all know that Dhirubhai established a refinery in Jamnagar. He made the name of Jamnagar very famous. It was here that the pre-wedding function of Anant and Radhika took place and the name of Jamnagar came up not only in India but also on the international map. We remembered Chorwad first. This is where our future was built. That’s why we can never forget Chorwad.

When we first wanted to make the company Public Limited, Dhirubhai and I had come to Rajkot. Dhirubhai said, “No, first of all, we have to go to Chorwad, have darshan of Mataji and seek blessings.” At that time we held a meeting in Rajkot and came to Chorwad and had darshan of Mataji, met the brothers and sisters of Chorwad. I remember that then Dhirubhai had organised a ‘dyaro’ (community gathering) here and provided food to all the people of the village. All the locals had come to the event at night and enjoyed themselves. Then Dhirubhai had said, “I have come to make the company Public Limited.” At that time, the people of Chorwad did not even know what Public Limited was, what a share was, what was the price of a share; no one knew anything.

Dhirubhai had called every relative and said, “You must take shares of Reliance, take shares of Reliance.” At that time, the share price of Reliance was ten rupees. Most people would know how much it is today. Right now, the price of a share is two thousand seven hundred rupees, from ten rupees. With the blessings of all of you, the issue was filled ten per cent more. This happened due to the good wishes of all of you.

The work he started progressed well. Dhirubhai made his mark, but now Mukeshbhai is the one to take it forward. You all would know that Dhirubhai had set up one refinery, but Mukeshbhai set up three refineries. If the son surpasses his father, then the mother will definitely be proud. Presently Anant is operating the entire refinery, and he is very fond of Jamnagar. He is happier in Jamnagar and currently handles all the work of the Reliance refinery. Radhika also has given her full support. She says that she will stay in Jamnagar and help Anant. May both of them be happy in Jamnagar and may their business grow even more than now, and the people of Chorwad and Jamnagar continue to prosper, this is my wish.

Today you all came here from Chorwad and surrounding villages. You all should go after eating. We will be very happy if you all go after having the food and enjoy yourselves. Then there is a programme of dyaro; if possible come for that too. I pray to Mataji and Shrinath ji that the honour and respect of my Chorwad village grows a lot. Jai Shri Krishna!

The entire building in Chorwad where Dhirubhai stayed in his early days was converted into a memorial to him thirteen years ago. All this happened under the supervision of Kokilaben. Not only Kokilaben, but the entire Ambani family comes to Chorwad on every important occasion. Near Chorwad, there is a place called Kukasvada, which is the ancestral village of Dhirubhai. Father Hirachand Ambani used to be the headmaster of the primary school of Chorwad. Dhirubhai was born in this Chorwad town on 28 December 1932, named Dhirajlal Hirachand Ambani. After receiving his primary education here, Dhirubhai did further studies in Junagadh and then moved to Aden from there.

Before his death, Dhirubhai had come here for the last time in 1995 with his entire family. After the death of Dhirubhai, the entire Ambani family gathered here in 2011 also, when the Dhirubhai Ambani Memorial was being inaugurated here. The Ambani family has deep faith in Shrinath ji as well as in the local Chorwadi Mata temple and comes here to visit on every important occasion. This is why, before tying the knot, Anant Ambani decided to come to Chorwad with his grandmother Kokilaben and fiancee Radhika Merchant.