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30
PRATAP BHOGILAL - JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE
Hemchandbhai rejoined me in Vienna after finishing his work. He took me one day to meet Vithalbhai Patel (brother of the renowned freedom fighter and national leader Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel), who was ill and recovering in a nursing home. There we met Subhash Chandra Bose. Subhash Bose's spirit of nationalism and his love for the country left a lasting impression on me. Vithalbhai Patel was elected as Speaker of Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi.
I can never forget a small but very embarrassing incident that happened during my stay in England. Professor Wodehouse had taken me one day. to Kent to meet his sister. As we were chatting over lunch at her place, asked the hostess how old she was. There was instant silence and I sensed that I had committed a faux pas but didn't quite know what. Professor Wodehouse later explained to me that it was not considered discreet and polite to ask a lady her age. “Remember, never ask a lady her age," he told me. That was my introduction to modern etiquette!
We returned to Mumbai in time for the next academic term at college.
A spell of rigorous training...
In 1934 Deccan College closed down and I moved back to Mumbai to join the Elphinstone College. After we took over Shree Ram Mills in 1935 and embarked on the textile business, Bapaji was keen that I should prepare myself to run it. I was then studying for my Master's degree at Bombay University School of Economics and Sociology. Simultaneously, I was also going to VJTI (Victoria Jubilee Technical Institute). Bapaji had arranged for me to study textile engineering under Prof. D.F. Kapadia, who was Head of Textile Department at VJTI. He happened to be a client of Bapaji's in his diamond business. My daily routine became very hectic.
I would leave our Andheri home at 8 am and reach VJTI at 8.30 am. The foreman of the workshop would come early every day to familiarise me with the running of the machines. I would be there till 10.30 am when the regular classes would begin. At 10.30 am I would start for Shree Ram Mills at Lower Parel and be there till 2 pm. Bapaji had ensured that I would
Our dreams have to be bigger. Our ambitions higher. Out commitment deeper.
And our efforts greater - Dhirubhai Ambani
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