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Encouraging students to aspire to great heights, Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, stressed on Thursday that a leader's true worth was determined not by the accolades they received but by the legacy they created.
During a special event commemorating Teachers' Day, titled 'Breaking Boundaries', held at Jai Hind College in Mumbai, Adani reflected on his journey, which began when he chose to discontinue his formal education at the age of 16, ultimately leading him to establish one of India's most prosperous conglomerates. He shared insights about his inspirations, the obstacles he has encountered, and India's evolution into an economic powerhouse.
"Consider the early titans of the US industry, such as John D Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt or Andrew Carnegie, who built the infrastructure that shaped the future of the United States or our own visionary leaders like JRD Tata, GD Birla and Dhirubhai Ambani, who played invaluable roles in transforming India's economic landscape. These leaders did more than just build businesses, they established legacies... They showed that the true measure of a leader is not in the titles but in the legacies they leave behind," India's richest industrialist said.
College that rejected Adani's admission application makes him chief guest
Adani, who is recognised as India’s second wealthiest individual, faced rejection from Jai Hind College in Mumbai during the late 1970s. However, many years later, this Teachers' Day, he received an invitation from the same institution to speak on Teachers’ Day.
Vikram Nankani, the President of the Jai Hind College Alumni Association, shared with the audience that Adani's application for admission had been declined. In his lecture, Adani reflected on his formative years in Mumbai and discussed the challenges that prevented him from completing his education.
Early life
“I was just 16 years old when I decided to break my first boundary. I had to do with my education and move to an unknown future in Mumbai,” Adani said while addressing the gathering. People still ask me why I moved to Mumbai and why I didn’t complete my education. The answer lies in the heart of every young dreamer who sees boundaries not as barriers but as challenges that test their courage..." he added.
Adani spent almost two years employed as a diamond sorter before he returned to his home state of Gujarat to oversee a packaging factory operated by his brother. In the 1980s, he established a trading company focused on importing polymers to support the ailing small-scale industries.
Following the economic reforms of 1991, he founded his global trading enterprise dealing in polymers, metals, textiles, and agricultural products at the age of 29, recognising that his business benefited from these reforms.
In 1994, the company went public and Adani Exports, now known as Adani Enterprises, launched its IPO. "The IPO was a strong success and underscored for me the importance of public markets,” he said.
Hindenburg issue
Adani said that it was a calculated move just before the closing of the follow-on public offer and designed to cause maximum damage.