Dhirubhai Ambani called Mukesh Ambani back to India midway through his MBA and asked him to…, then appointed a ‘special teacher’ to teach him…

Dhirubhai Ambani, the founder of Reliance Industries, was a visionary who built an empire from humble beginnings. Though he had studied only till the 10th grade, his thinking was far ahead of his time. On his birth anniversary, his family continues to remember the values he lived by and passed on to his children. Mukesh Ambani, in an interview with Moneylife, once shared a heartwarming story about how his father shaped his early learning. He revealed that Dhirubhai didn’t want him to gain just textbook knowledge. Instead, he wanted Mukesh to understand the real world.

In the 1960s, Dhirubhai placed a newspaper advertisement looking for a teacher—not to teach school subjects, but to help his son learn about life, current affairs, and the world beyond books. The ad specifically asked for someone who could teach “general knowledge” and life skills instead of academic lessons.

This led to the arrival of Mahendrabhai, a mentor who became a special part of Mukesh’s childhood. Mukesh recalled spending days with him traveling in passenger buses and local trains, walking through city streets, playing football and hockey, and even going on camping trips. These experiences, though unconventional, helped Mukesh understand people, places, and situations from a very young age.

Mukesh believes this kind of upbringing gave him a different perspective on life and business. He credits his father entirely for shaping his journey and said that it was his father’s way of preparing him for the real world.

In fact, Dhirubhai didn’t just stop there. When Mukesh was studying for his MBA abroad, Dhirubhai called him back mid-way and asked him to join the family business. He believed that real-life experience was more valuable than any degree.

That practical learning—both from a special teacher and from direct involvement in business—played a huge role in making Mukesh the business leader he is today. And for that, he says, he will always be grateful to his father.

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