Why India Needs More Ambanis

I HAVE HAD THE FORTUNE of knowing Nita and Mukesh Ambani for almost three decades now. I have seen Mukesh transform both himself and his company but, in all of this time, the one thing I have always seen is his unwavering belief in nation and family. I have seen Nita and Mukesh raise three exceptional children: each one polite and humble; not a whiff of entitlement, and children who have grown into fine adults and even finer human beings. The respect for the elderly, the respect for merit, and the respect for the nation and our cultural DNA have been the result of remarkable parenting and I have been witness to a lot of this. I have seen Mukesh devastated when the whole fracas with Anil, his younger brother, began and have seen the anguish he went through. Because Mukesh and Nita are great believers in the family. To this day, primacy is given to Kokilaben at every event as it should be. The respect with which Mukesh and Nita treat the Mehtas, Piramals and Merchants is testimony to their sanskaar. Their upbringing and their belief system.

Nita and Mukesh have one large family, which comprises their biological children and then the larger Reliance family. This whole universe is special to both Nita and Mukesh. I still remember, almost 17 years ago, when some of us were invited to Mukesh’s 50th birthday—that too was in Jamnagar— and the excitement with which Mukesh showed everyone around, be it the refinery or the command centre or for that matter the mango orchards. And this is where Nita comes in. Mukesh could not have found a more able and sensitive partner and that is what Nita is. The wind beneath his sails.

Last weekend, the pre-wedding festivities of Radhika and Anant bore the Ambani stamp like none other. Everything was curated to beyond perfection and was personal. From both Nita and Mukesh personally welcoming each guest to the care they took of the support staff to the love that both Radhika and Anant showered on the guests, it was not only something heartwarming but a lesson in affection and humility. There were many important people but there were no VIPs. Every guest was treated alike. As it should be. The ceremonies were family-curated and family-run.

Every ceremony was inspired by Hindu shastras and they were both proud to share this heritage as also give people an insight into what our civilisational legacy is. The manner in which every guest felt part of these festivities bore none of the hypocrisy or pretence that one would see at some weddings of yore. They made India relevant and, what’s more, the true character of Indianness was on display with humility and not arrogance. With affection and not arrogance, and that is why the Ambani stereotype is needed in this country today, more than ever before.

It is one thing to be wealthy but quite another to share your wealth in a manner in which it enthuses, empathises and inspires, and that is what they have been doing time and time again. In March 2023, when they inaugurated the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai, it was another stellar contribution to the arts and crafts world, both Indian and international, and this has remained the Nita- Mukesh Ambani hallmark. The faith they have in everything Indian is staggering and is reflected in everything they do and the children have taken after their parents in full measure.

Anant unveiled his passion project Vantara, the rescue and rehabilitation centre for animals, and that is so amazing. Ironic as it is, in Jamnagar one saw this and around the same time Ratan Tata gifted the Small Animal Hospital to Mumbai. Ratan Tata is 86 and Anant Ambani is 28; this more than anything tells you where Anant’s heart lies and the kind of human being he has shaped into.

For a foodie like me, the Ambanis have also been the gold standard in yet another way: I couldn’t even count the kinds of cuisine that were on display, but I did get more than my fair share of remarkable Indian food—from the street food of Indore to the entire repertoire of Gujarati food.

This was a weekend of not just celebrating a new couple in the making. It was about celebrating India and what we have in our cultural repository. It was about celebrating love and celebrating civilisational elegance.

And ultimately it was about celebrating life.

About The Author

Suhel Seth

Suhel Seth is Managing Partner of Counselage India and can be reached at suhel@counselage.com

•