Ambalal Sarabhai

Who was Ambalal Sarabhai?

Ambalal Sarabhai was a leading industrialist of Ahmedabad and also played an important role in India's freedom struggle. He was founder of Sarabhai group of Companies, like Sarabhai Textiles, Calico Textile Mills, Sarabhai Chemicals & others.

He was educated at Gujarat College in Ahmedabad and joined his family business as the director of Karamchand Premchand Private Ltd. He was the owner of Sarabhai Chemicals in Vadodara which manufactured chemicals and pharmaceuticals. He was the president of the Ahmedabad Mill Owner's Association in the year 1918-1919 and also a member of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. He was awarded the Kaisar-i-Hind Gold Medal by the British government which he renounced. He gave both personal and financial support to the freedom struggle in Ahmedabad.

Ambalal Sarabhai had been ardent supporter of Mahatma Gandhi and Indian independence movement since 1916, when even Gandhiji had not yet even launched any big movement in India. Gandhiji's ashram at Sabarmati in his starting years ran from funds donated by Sarabhai.

He married Saraladevi in 1910 and fathered eight children. One of his sons, Vikram Sarabhai, became a physicist and was considered to be the father of the Indian space program. His eldest daughter, Mridula Sarabhai played a leading role in India's freedom struggle. His another daughter Leena Sarabhai established Shreyas Foundation meant for educating orphanage and underprivileged kids. His another son Gautam Sarabhai was able industrialist.