Nita Ambani speaks her mind

Whether as Nita Ambani or just Nita, she has proven time and time again in surprising and industrious ways that her own life and achievements are capable of arousing much interest, intrigue and admiration. A consistent face of grace and dignity through peaks and plummets, After Hrs. catches her in an unusual mood to ‘chat’...

Were there any hiccups you faced in setting up the Dhirubhani Ambani International School (DAIS)?

“I wouldn’t say hiccups, but challenges are more like it. Just a week before I started this school, I was very stressed and nervous. I asked Mukesh if I could do a sales pitch for the school to the Reliance employees because I was thinking where and how will I get 700 students, given that it’s a brand new school. By the time the school opened for admissions, we had over 8,000 applications! And that was another matter of concern, because now how do you say ‘no’ to over 7,000 students and do it well so that they feel that it’s not because they are less special, but only because we could only accommodate so many? One of the greatest challenges was also finding the right faculty for which we launched a global recruitment programme. It paid off, as we have exceedingly talented and committed teachers from India and across the world on our staff.”

What has been DAIS’s greatest achievement since inception?

“Oh, there have been several! For me, the first was clearly two years ago, when the school opened its gates and I saw children pouring in. It was exciting and yet an anxiety-ridden moment for all - parents, faculty and me. It was extremely heartening for me to see that the little children entered the school with lots of joy on their faces — in fact, they started crying when they had to go back home! We took in some children with special needs, as I feel there is a need to integrate them in the mainstream . There have been many more - whether it’s been hosting students from Pakistan and other countries for a model United Nations, to the graduation ceremony and the sports day where we invited children from the School for the Blind to perform. Then we started the Akanksha-DAIS centre, where students from nearby slums used our school facilities. The most recent was this year’s International Baccalaureate examination, where we were amongst the best in the world! We had 100 percent placements for students in universities ranging from Stanford and LSE to Wharton and Kellogs.”

However, DAIS is conceived as an expensive school for the masses. Any comments?

“That’s a myth! The fee structure from Lower KG to Standard 8 is only Rs 35,000 per year which is absolutely competitive and comparable to any other good school. Our International Baccalaureate is priced at about Rs 2,90,000 a year, which again is very affordable for an international school. And the truth is NOBODY is ever denied admission on the basis of affordability.”

Also, it is perceived to be a school only for kids of ‘famous parents’. Is that true?

“Another myth. In fact our parent population has a great diversity — most of them are professionals ranging from scientists and doctors to chartered accountants. It’s an eclectic mix and I wanted it to be that way. More than 80 percent of the kids take the school bus and that is a very integral part in student bonding. I have students coming from Navi Mumbai to Cuffe Parade. So every part of the city is represented.”

In the face of the recent Reliance crises, rumours floated that the school might shut down.

“Certainly not! The school is an institution by itself. An institution is beyond any individual. It breathes and lives on its own and always will. We’ve created a world class institution. I am there everyday. So it’s an absolutely serious commitment on my part and in time it will sustain itself.”

A lot of people were drawn to the school because of the name behind it and they have put their trust in it for that.

“When we opened the school ,I was very open and frank with the parents. The school was kept open for all parents to come and see. We also had long counseling sessions between parents and teachers to understand why people wanted their children to come to our school. Let me tell you a little known background - it was initially named `Sanskaar`. But then I decided to name it in the memory of and as a tribute to my father-in-law. A name can bring in initial curiousity but it can’t sustain itself in the long run. At the end of the day, the quality of education and results count.”

How did DAIS cope with the upheaval caused in Mumbai recently due to the heavy rains?

“It was an unforgettable experience! When I first heard of the floods and traffic jams, my immediate concern was the status of the transport arrangement for the children to and from school. I left home immediately but was stuck and reached school late at night. At around 5.30 am, when I was stuck near Mahim for almost for an hour, a mother walked up to me and asked me if I had an asthma pump on me as her son had just had an attack (and I usually carry it because my younger son suffers from it, but on that day I had forgotten it). It was a moment of sheer helplessness. But this mother actually helped other people too.

At school, our incredible staff truly rose to the occasion with great support from parents and well-wishers who quickly established a system to track the locations of each bus. We sent commandos from our security agency to ensure that the buses full of children returned safely to school.

The school organised boarding and lodging for over 350 children, parents and teachers for more than two days. What was really surprising was the attitude of the children. Never having faced such a situation before, they showed fantastic courage and determination.

This deluge was a serious wake up call for all of us. We all need to, in our own way, contribute in any way we can. It all boils down to humanity after all.”

What’s next?
“I don’t like talking about any projects till they don’t solidify and take off. So all I’d like to divulge is that it’s a unique healthcare initiative.”