Achievements, Accolades and Awards.....

Shri Dhirubhai Ambani achieved many accolades in his business career, receiving praise on a global scale. However, his dearest achievement was receiving the Wharton Dean's Medal, as he was the first Indian to receive it. Other notable recipients of this award include Fidel Ramos (former President of the Philippines), Shimon Peres (former Prime Minister of Israel), Reginald H. Johns (former Chairman and CEO of General Electric), etc. The tributes paid to Dhirubhai unanimously acknowledge the almost mythical scale of his achievement; this was work he had accomplished in one lifetime.

Shri Dhirubhai Ambani was awarded the 24th Dean's Medal by the Wharton School University of Pennsylvania in 1998. The Wharton School is widely famous as one of the best business schools in the world. The Dean's Medal is the highest tribute for extraordinary achievements or services rendered by individuals globally. Individuals creating wealth and value and promoting a peaceful and prosperous world through excellence in management are honored with the Dean's Medal.

The Medal was a recognition of Shri Dhirubhai's extraordinary achievements in building Reliance Industries into the largest private sector entity in India. Many eminent personalities belonging to different backgrounds witnessed the event celebrating the life and career of one of the most successful Indian entrepreneurs. While receiving the award, Shri Dhirubhai dedicated the award to 'The Reliance Family.'

For his outstanding contribution to the growth and development of the chemical industry in India, Shri Dhirubhai Ambani was conferred with the Man of the Century award by the Chemtech Foundation and Chemical Engineering World, India's leading industry association, in November 2000. The award was presented to Shri Dhirubhai by Dr. P.C. Alexander (Dr. Padinjarethalakal Cherian Alexander), Governor of Maharashtra (1993 - 2002). While congratulating Shri Dhirubhai Ambani, Ram Naik, the Union Minister for petroleum and natural gas (1999-2004), described him as the father of the petroleum industry.

Accepting the award, Shri Dhirubhai Ambani said, "lakhs of people have joined me in building Reliance. Between us, there has always been one common bond: Reliance and trust. They placed trust in me. In return, I stood by that trust, without wavering. Reliance is a triumph of trust." A few years after the death of Shri Dhirubhai Ambani, Dr. P.C. Alexander observed in his speech, “in the passing away of Dhirubhai Ambani, the nation has lost one of the doyens of modern Indian corporate community, a philanthropist, and above all, a great human being endowed with great compassion and concern for the underprivileged sections of society.”

The Brihanmumbai Mahanagarpalika felicitated Shri Dhirubhai with a civic reception for the First Citizen’s Award. The award was presented by Shri Hareshwar Patil, Mayor of Mumbai (1999-2002), in the presence of Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Various luminaries were honored with this award, including HRH the Prince of Wales, Subhash Chandra Bose, Dadabhai Naoroji, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Mother Teresa, J.R.D. Tata, etc. Eminent personalities and the citizens of Mumbai gathered to honor Shri Dhirubhai for his spirit of entrepreneurship.

Mumbai was very dear to Shri Dhirubhai Ambani. In his acceptance speech, he shared what he truly felt about the city: “It is true that I was born in Gujarat. But I was reborn in Mumbai. Mumbai gave birth to the spirit that has moved me all my life. Mumbai gave me an opportunity when I looked for it. Mumbai gave me courage when I faced challenges. Mumbai gave me support when I needed it. Mumbai gave me strength when difficulties came my way. Mumbai has always nourished me kindly. In this sense, Mumbai has been like a mother to me. Kind, caring, and generous.”

The Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence is an award that recognizes talented entrepreneurs and honors successful business leaders for their achievements. Each year, a distinguished jury of the top leaders from business, government, and policymakers felicitate winners in a glittering ceremony in the presence of Ministers and the top echelons of corporate India.

Shri Dhirubhai Ambani was conferred with the Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence on 10th August 2001, exemplifying the spirit of enterprise, for thinking globally, and for unrivaled contribution to the growth of India’s private sector and its capital markets. The award was presented by former Union Finance Minister, Shri Yashwant Sinha.

Shri Dhirubhai Ambani won the ‘Businessman of the Year 1993’ award given by India’s leading business magazine, Business India, in January 1994. He was selected by the Indian Merchants Chamber as “An Outstanding Visionary of the 20th Century” in recognition of his unique achievements and contribution towards industry and capital markets in India in December 1999. For his notable contribution to making the most remarkable stories of business endeavors of the 20th century, he was conferred with the ‘Indian Entrepreneur of the 20th Century’ award in March 2000 by FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry). He was nominated three times as one of the ‘Power 50 – the most powerful people in Asia’ by Asiaweek magazine. He was also voted the most admired Indian of the millennium in Business & Economics in the ‘Legends – A Celebration of Excellence’ poll audited by Ernst & Young for Zee Network, January 2000. He was voted the ‘Creator of Wealth’ of the century in the Times of India poll in January 2000. Padma Vibhushan Award, India’s second highest civilian award, was posthumously awarded to Shri Dhirubhai Ambani in 2016.