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Nita Ambani Joins RIL Board as Director
MUMBAI: The shareholders of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) have approved the appointment of Nita M. Ambani who is the chairperson of Reliance Foundation (RF), as director on the board of Reliance Industries at an AGM held on 18 July 2014.
On behalf of the board, RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani welcomed his spouse and said, “Nita has been engaged in several initiatives that have strengthened Reliance, right from building the world-class township and the ecological development at Jamnagar, next generation office campuses, designing customer touch paints of Reliance Retail, healthcare initiatives, successfully setting up and running institutions such as Dhirubhai Ambani International School and Mumbai Indians to, most importantly, managing Reliance Foundation. We are delighted to welcome her to the Board of Reliance Industries as an accomplished individual who will add significant value to Reliance’s journey of growth.”
While accepting her new role with a sense of humility and responsibility she said, “RIL has always aimed to better millions of lives and my mission will be to bring speed, scale and social contract to RIL.’s larger mission. I accept this responsibility as a tribute to millions of RIL stakeholders, as well as to my tireless colleagues at Reliance foundation.”
Nita Ambani, the wife of India’s richest man was at the forefront of the ecological development of RlL’s Jamnagar refinery site where a biodiversity plan covering 3.2 million trees over 2000 acres was implemented.
She developed the world-class township in Jamnagar from scratch, setting new standards in quality of life. Nita has also led initiatives spanning education, health, rural transformation, environmental protection and sports over the past two decades. She has also built institutions in fields such as education, sports and healthcare in India, through Reliance Foundation and Mumbai Indians from scratch. She also leads 13 schools in the Reliance fold, including 1 international school- Dhirubhai Ambani International School- which is a testament to her commitment to excellence in education. These schools are striving to provide quality education to more than 15,000 students.
With RIL acquiring Network 18 and now announcing Nita as one of the directors in the board, it will be interesting to see the developments shaping up in the company.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
