MUMBAI: Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, announced an unconditional grant of Rs 151 crore to his alma mater, the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) in Mumbai.
This donation, the largest in the institute’s history, was made during the launch event of the biography “The Divine Scientist,” which chronicles the life of Padma Vibhushan Professor Man Mohan Sharma.
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Ambani described the donation as a gesture of “Guru Dakshina,” honoring Prof. Sharma, who significantly influenced his academic and professional journey. Recalling his decision to choose UDCT (now ICT) over IIT Bombay, Ambani credited Prof. Sharma’s first lecture as pivotal in shaping his path. He lauded Sharma as a “Rashtra Guru” and “Guru of Bharat,” acknowledging his transformative role in India’s chemical industry and his advocacy for economic reforms.
The event, held at ICT’s Pidilite Hall, was attended by eminent scientists, including Anil Kakodkar, Raghunath Mashelkar, J B Joshi, Aniruddha Pandit, and G D Yadav. They paid tribute to Prof. Sharma’s six-decade-long dedication to teaching and research, noting that over 1,300 Ph.D. scholars trace their academic lineage to him.
This significant endowment underscores Ambani’s commitment to advancing scientific education and research in India, reflecting the enduring impact of mentorship and the importance of giving back to educational institutions.
