Mukesh Ambani Donates Rs 151 Crore to Alma Mater ICT, Pays Tribute to Prof. MM Sharma

The announcement was made during a special function held at ICT (formerly known as the University Department of Chemical Technology, UDCT) to celebrate the release of the biography Divine Scientist, which chronicles the life and contributions of the renowned Professor MM Sharma.

Ambani, who graduated from UDCT in the 1970s, spent over three hours at the institute reminiscing about his academic journey and the profound influence Prof. Sharma had on him. “The first lecture I attended at UDCT was by Professor Sharma. It left a lasting impression on me,” he said, recalling how the late professor's vision and intellect shaped not only students but also national policy.

He lauded Prof. Sharma as a quiet yet powerful architect of India’s economic reforms. “He convinced policymakers that the only path to India’s growth was to unshackle Indian industry from the license-permit-raj,” Ambani said. “This would allow Indian enterprises to scale, reduce import dependency, and become globally competitive.”

Ambani drew a parallel between Prof. Sharma and his father, the late Dhirubhai Ambani, describing them both as visionary leaders with an unrelenting drive to transform Indian industry. “Like my father, he had a burning desire to change Indian industry—from a state of scarcity to one of global leadership,” he said. “These two bold visionaries believed that science and technology, when aligned with private entrepreneurship, could open the floodgates of prosperity.”

Crediting much of the success of India’s chemical industry to Prof. Sharma’s tireless efforts, Ambani referred to him as a Rashtra Guru—“a Guru of Bharat.”

In a moving moment of tribute, Ambani announced the ₹151 crore grant as a symbolic Guru Dakshina to ICT, fulfilling Prof. Sharma’s wish. “When he tells us something, we just listen. We don’t think. He told me, ‘Mukesh, you have to do something big for ICT,’ and I am very pleased to announce this grant in his honor,” Ambani said.

The announcement marks one of the largest donations to a technical institution in India and highlights Ambani’s enduring commitment to education, science, and national development.