New Delhi: Eminent industrialist and former Rajya Sabha member K K Birla on July 8 described Dhirubhai Ambani as an inspiring and exceptional business baron in whose death the country has lost a great visionary and one of its top-most industrialists.

In a statement, he said Dhirubhai was a remarkable entrepreneur who spawned an equity cult that many business houses had sought to emulate. He inspired countless ordinary men and women to perform beyond their normal capabilities.

Dhirubhai's legacy was not just the Reliance Group, but also his able and industrious sons Mukesh and Anil. "I have no doubt that both of them will together carry forward their father's legacy and take the establishment forward to greater heights," Birla said.

He said starting as an ordinary trader, Dhirubhai established his first industrial unit some 35 years back. Since then he moved ahead at an awe-inspiring speed and has been able to build up an industrial empire of which the nation could be proud of.

Birla said by the merger of Reliance Industries and Reliance Petroleum, Dhirubhai created India's largest company in the private sector which is also the first Indian private company to find a place in the Fortune 500 global list.

"A praiseworthy achievement," he said.

PTI