Kokilaben Ambani, wife of the late Dhirubhai Ambani, played a significant role in the Reliance Industries empire. Her life journey, from a modest upbringing to becoming a matriarch of one of India’s most prominent families, is a compelling story of resilience and influence.

Biography/Wiki

Born Kokilaben Patel on February 24, 1934, in Jamnagar, Gujarat, she hailed from a traditional Gujarati family. Despite societal limitations on women’s education at the time, her family prioritized her learning. She completed her matriculation from Sajuba Girls’ High School. At 21, she married Dhirubhai Ambani, relocating to Mumbai.

Their early married life involved Dhirubhai’s work in Aden, Yemen. After establishing himself, he brought Kokilaben to Aden, where their eldest son, Mukesh Ambani, was born. The family later returned to Mumbai, expanding with the arrival of Anil, Deepti, and Nina.

Family, Husband & Caste

Kokilaben belonged to a middle-class Gujarati Patidar family. Her father, Ratilal Jashraj Patel, worked at the Telegraph Office, and her mother, Rukshmaniben, was a homemaker. She had two brothers and two sisters.

She married Dhirubhai Ambani in 1955. Their marriage produced two sons – Mukesh and Anil – and two daughters – Nina and Deepti.

• Mukesh Ambani’s children: Akash, Anant, and Isha Ambani.
• Anil Ambani’s children: Jai Anshul and Jai Anmol Ambani.

Net Worth

While precise figures vary, her net worth was estimated to be around $2.9 billion (approximately ?18,000 crore) as of 2002. This is a significant figure reflecting her family’s considerable wealth and influence.

Favourite Things

Kokilaben’s interests were diverse. She enjoyed:

• Traveling, particularly to Switzerland and London.
• Wearing pink sarees.
• Driving Mercedes-Benz cars, although she had a collection of various brands.
• A vegetarian diet, especially Chorwad meals (roti, dal, dhokli, and aatyu).
• Fashion designers Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla and Sabyasachi Mukherjee.
• Hobbies: traveling, reading, and singing.

Facts

Here are some interesting facts about Kokilaben Ambani’s life:

• Early Mumbai life in a 2-BHK chawl near Babulnath Temple.
• Currently resides primarily at Antilla with Mukesh Ambani.
• Dhirubhai Ambani arranged for an English teacher to improve her public speaking skills.
• Devotee of Lord Krishna, frequently visiting Dwarkadhish and Shrinathji Temples.
• Founded the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, with branches across multiple Indian cities.
• Received the Padma Vibhushan award (conferred on her husband posthumously) in March 2016.