Reliance group Chairman Dhirubhai Ambani, one of the leading lights of the Indian corporate world, was confident that India will become a superpower one day.
Ambani, 69, passed away at Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital on Saturday night after 12 days of hospitalisation following a brain stroke.
Following are his famous quotes during interviews with various publications and public speeches:
"We can prove to the world that India can do it. That Indians are not afraid of competition. That India is a nation of achievers."
"I dream India of becoming a great economic superpower."
"Dhirubhai will go one day. But Reliance's employees and shareholders will keep it afloat. Reliance is now a concept in which the Ambanis have become irrelevant."
"Reliance is built on some principles. I sincerely believe that these are the principles that can help us to build a greater India"
"We must forge a new partnership for a great India. A strong and constructive partnership between industry, government and society."
"Pursue your goal, even in the face of difficulties. Convert difficulties into opportunities. Keep your morale high, in spite of setbacks. At the end you are bound to succeed."
"If India wants to be a great nation, we must have courage to trust. This is my sincere belief."
"We must always go for the best. Do not compromise on quality. Reject if it is not the best -- not only the best in India, but globally."
On his retirement: "There is no question about that. Business is my hobby. It is not a burden to me. In any case Reliance now can run without me." He made these observations in 1994.
"I give least importance to being Number one. I consider myself to be fortunate in this position and would like to contribute to nation building in some way."
"I am 100 per cent pro-liberalisation. I do not think any industrialist is against it. But we should protect our industries, from unfair competition."
Does making money excite you?" No, but I have to make money for my shareholders. What excites me is achievement, doing something difficult. In this room extraordinary things must happen."
"All we have to do is to break the shackles that chain the energies of our people, and India's economy will record a quantum leap and move into a new, higher orbit of growth, competitiveness and productivity."
"First and foremost, I owe my success and achievements to the affection, friendship and trust of millions of employees, customers, shareholders, and business associates, who have stood by me and been a major source of my strength all along."
"I believe that the success of Reliance cannot be attributed to the qualities and achievements of one individual, or even a group of individuals, but has to be viewed as a triumph of a process, and a spirit that binds the entire Reliance family together."
"My advice to young entrepreneurs and not to accept defeat in the face of odds, and challenge negative forces with hope, self-confidence and conviction. I believe that ambition and initiative will ultimately triumph. The success of the young entrepreneur will be the key to India's transformation in the new millennium."
"I can never fully repay the debt I owe to Mumbai. To all of you. My past was shaped in Mumbai."
"I consider myself a pathfinder. I have been excavating the jungle and making the road for others to walk. I like to be the first in everything I do."
"I as school kid was a member of the Civil Guard, something like today's NCC. We had to salute our officers who went round in jeeps. So I thought...one day I will also ride in a jeep and somebody else will salute me."
"Growth has no limit in Reliance. I keep revising my vision. A vision has to be within reach, not in the air. It has to be achievable. I believe we can be a Rs 300 billion company by the end of the century."
"My fulfillment lies in the satisfaction of every member of the Reliance family, comprising thousands of workers, managers, business associates and over five million shareholders. Being instrumental in creating wealth for over 5 million India families, and bringing prosperity and well being to their life is the best source of satisfaction and joy for me."
Reliance group Chairman Dhirubhai Ambani, one of the leading lights of the Indian corporate world, was confident that India will become a superpower one day.