book review, 'ambani & sons', by hamish mcdonald

It covers dhirubhai ambani and his dream company, reliance. It begins with dhirubhai’s life in Gujarat, where he availed scholarship as a poor student, and later in 1951 shifted to Aden, a british oil company area in desert gulf area.

After his return in 1958, it goes into details of his entrepreneurship and often grey methods to succeed in India. This book goes beyond the death of dhirubhai and gives details of the split between the brothers mukesh and anil.. and as they cool off towards each other at the end of 2010…

An India from 1960’s to the beginning of 21st century, marked by multiple social ideologies and govt. apathy to criminal enquiries towards his business empire. The author, constantly tried to portray how dhirubhai dealt with the govt. machinery to get what he wanted. And overall, what is indian govt. is a question which looms large, but is left for readers to find out.

What is a govt?
is it the constitution? Or the bureaucratic officials and the judiciary? Or the masses?

Or the corporates who seem to wield such huge resources? Rather than just accepting, govt. as one fixed entity, dhirubhai seemed to have moved ahead to define it on his own, as much as he can.
Whether its legal or not is like trying to figure out, which ‘ism’ is right one… As an analogy, indian govt. system seems like the hindu religion… with multiple views, rituals, philosophies – ranging from being in love with a god to complete atheism.

But each group thinks theirs is the right way, without realizing there are 100 other ways which are part of this concept known as ‘hinduism’. Thus in indian govt. system, there are socialism, communism, capitalism, individualism, collectivism and nepotism and so on. And in such a backdrop, the ambani story seems to have all the elements of a mega television serial. Foes turn friends, only to fight again, and at times dirty and at times compassionate.

The whirl wind of changes are ongoing in indian economical scenario even now, and no one ‘ism’ seems to be the lone winner. so the race & search goes on….

Now specifically for the book review… ;)

A young dhirubhai – after working in gulf coast (near yemen) for a british petroleum co. for 7 years, returns to india in 1958, and begins his business with a partner in Mumbai textile market, with reliance textile industries… He seems to take bigger risks with each step ahead, and deals with multiple obstacles which India provides to anyone who wants to create changes at high speed.

He deals with lack of financial resources through generating money through chaotic indian shares market with new methods. Connects with plethora of govt. babus, policy makers, political big-wigs, customs and other agencies notorious for their ability to slow down anything and also manages to work with foreign organizations wary of murky business systems.

There are 100’s of obstactles that happen in India on a regular basis – jealous business rivals, people who start personal vendetta on perceived insults – and such vendetta’s can go on for year, and power hungry politicians, quirky family members, ideologists who attack relentlessly on basis of value conflicts and try to demonize their enemies, and clueless masses…

The same India, where almost anything can be turned around, a sinner to saint and back again, Where papers can be lost, scams wiped clean and bitter enemies become business partners, and also where loyal employees and partners sacrifice themselves for their leaders and his family…

All these happenings which rival mega TV series occur at fast pace in Hamish Mcdonalds book on Ambani, and if you are old enough and were an avid newspaper reader from last few decades, then you will re-live those bold morning headlines you had read in the past decades.. as the author has based his accounts on these media expositions a lot.

The author tries to remain objective, but dhirubhai’s aura is evident from beginning to end – though there are enough information presented and the reader is encouraged to see between the lines.

If you have not already made up your mind as whether dhirubhai is a saint or a sinner – then you might get more out of this book, otherwise, you will end up seeing just the side you want to see (selective attention). Its like this, you either hate him or love him..

the middle neutrality is very tough, but worth it to get many epiphanies. Though there is a comparison in the end – Modh Baniya community from kathiyawar area of Gujarat gave 2 personalities to the world – gandhi and dhirubhai. Maybe as different as Khadi and polyster. If you look at india of today (in 2013), both have influenced in its making. Should they or could they be compared? (recently I did read a comparison analysis between lincoln and gandhi… again controversial material) Some might refuse such a comparison.

But, suppose objectively if an alien compares them, what would be its analysis? Probably such objectivity wont be possible for most Indians – or probably time will tell…