‘He thought big, wasn’t afraid to take risks’

Going back to the years Ambani lived here, Prabha Balgaumkar says, ‘‘I remember when Dhirubhai first came to stay here, he could only speak Gujarati. But that did not deter him; he was always so ambitious, and such a hard worker. He loved strong coffee, which he always demanded when he came to our house. He would often ask us to accept his registered post or messages from relatives, etc.’’

The family lost touch after Dhirubhai shifted to his Sea Wind bungalow at Cuffe Parade. Balgaumkar herself is bedridden and though others in the family wanted to visit Ambani at the hospital, they chose not to, feeling it would not be possible to get through the elaborate security arrangements.

‘‘Dhirubhai was never arrogant. He even took care to ensure we did not feel out of place when we attended the weddings of his two daughters,’’ Balgaumkar adds.

Hansa Shah, who lived right next to Dhirubhai’s home, remembers his big, open laugh. She says, ‘‘There are hardly any words to describe this jovial person. We were then the only ones with a phone, so he would come here often. He was always so down to earth. His brother Raminkbhai spent an hour with us and even introduced us to Anil Ambani when we visited Dhirubhai at Breach Candy Hospital.’’

Shah’s only regret is that her 84-year-old father, Keshubhai Zaveri, with whom Dhirubhai had shared many hours discussing business, was unable to visit the ailing industrialist in hospital.

Rashmikant Jariwalla, who Dhirubhai used to buy yarn from, remembers him as a person who always thought big. ‘‘He was ambitious and never afraid to take risks. He never let down those associated with him. Dhirubhai had acute business sense. Look at the way he changed the share bazaar. It is an achievement only a great visionary could have attained,’’ says Jariwalla.