Aunts, uncles who fought for freedom, a Gandhian grandfather and 30 under one roof: The unconventional upbringing that made Nita Ambani

Nita Ambani, Chairperson of the Reliance Foundation, has rarely spoken in detail about her roots in a large, close-knit Gujarati family that dwelled under one roof in a middle-class locality at Santacruz in suburban Mumbai. Her father, Ravindrabhai Dalal, was a devoted philanthropist, and, as a young girl, Nita would often accompany him on Sundays to distribute food to the underprivileged. It was during one of her Bharatanatyam performances that Dhirubhai Ambani first noticed her, eventually choosing her as the bride for his eldest son. Dhirubhai held Ravindrabhai in the highest esteem, deeply respecting his selfless dedication and compassionate service to humanity.

"I believe values are shaped during formative years, and I am truly grateful to my parents for instilling in me the importance of sharing, caring, tolerance, hard work, respect for elders, and patience. These values continue to guide me," Nita Ambani told Fortune India in an interaction for 'Most Powerful Women in Business' special edition.

"I come from a large happy humble joint family. A family of nearly 30 members, all living under one roof — from my grandmother to four uncles, four aunts, and all our cousins. We didn’t have too many means, but we were encouraged to have big dreams and we were surrounded by unconditional love and joy! Most of my value system was shaped during those foundational years," she said.

There were 11 girls and 1 boy in the family and one of the things that shaped Nita Ambani's journey was the equality with which the children were raised. "Sixty years ago, my parents taught us that whatever the boys can do, the girls can do too! And this has stayed with me," she said.

"Family is my sanctuary, my source of strength, my home, my everything. In our family, we are all each other’s biggest cheerleaders. We wholeheartedly support each other’s dreams. Every big or small occasion is celebrated together, we work as one unit and that is our biggest strength," she detailed.

"Mukesh has been the best life partner to me, always encouraging me to move out of my comfort zone, take up greater responsibilities, learn new things, and achieve the impossible. He has truly been the wind beneath my wings. Everything that I have done and achieved would have not been possible without the unconditional love, encouragement, and support of my husband and all my six children, Isha, Anand, Shloka, Akash, Radhika, and Anant," she said.

And now of course, one of the biggest sources of strength, stamina, positivity, and energy for her has been the grandchildren--- Prithvi, Aadiya, Krishna, and Veda.

"My earliest role models were the amazing women in my family, starting with my courageous and always-positive mother, my Gandhian grandmother, and my incredible aunts who were all pathbreaking in their time as swimmers, teachers, shipping executives, and freedom fighters for India’s independence. These women taught me courage and resilience. They taught me to work really hard, and raised me to believe that with honesty and determination, I could do anything, I could be anything," said Ambani.

"My father, Ravindrabhai Dalal, was one of the kindest people I have known, his gentleness and compassion continue to guide me. After I got married, I was very inspired by my father-in-law, Dhirubhai Ambani, always dreamed big, and taught me to believe in my dreams too," she added.

For her, the simple joys in life matter the most like going for a drive with Mukesh, working out, practicing Bharatanatyam, listening to music, watching sports, spending time with children and grandchildren. "They are God’s biggest gifts to us," she said.