Ambalal Sarabhai

Indian industrialist (1890–1967)

Ambalal Sarabhai (23 February 1890 – 13 July 1967) was an Indian industrialist, philanthropist, institution builder, and supporter of Mahatma Gandhi. He was the chairman and promoter of Calico Mills and the founder of The Sarabhai Group of Companies. He also was a participant in Indian independence movement. Ambalal was the great grandson of Maganbhai Karamchand (1823 64), one of Ahemdabad's wealthiest Jain financiers. After Gandhi decided to admit an untouchable family in his Kochrab Ashram, Mangaldas Girdhardas decided to stop his funding to his ashram. At this time, Sarabhai decided to fund this Ashram and gave ₹13000 to Gandhi, which was two year's expenses.

In 1910, Ambalal was appointed by the government to the Ahmedabad municipality at the age of twenty one. He wed Sarladevi that same year; she was the educated daughter of a lawyer who worked in Rajkot. Ambalal set sail for England in 1912 on a ten month voyage, with some goals of learning about the textile business and some of the country's culture. Ambalal was getting ready to turn the Ahmedabad Manufacturing and Calico Printing Company Limited, his family's business, into the biggest, most advanced textile mill in the metropolis. His spouse, their infant daughter Mridula, and several friends and relatives traveled with him. Ambalal and his family lived the life of upper class English aristocrats with an English butler, chauffeur, valet, and maid in a rented house in Richmond. Ambalal Sarabhai's family earned the informal title 'Medici of Ahmedabad' for their role in the city development with their progressive views on the culture and politics of the city.

In 1922, Ambalal installed in the Calico Mills a complete fine count spinning, weaving, and processing mill.