I want to use digital technology to bridge the gap between rural and urban India: Nita Ambani

What are the outstanding features of the Sir H. N. hospital which has been revamped into Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital?
It's a digital hospital. It's future ready. Every information can be accessed from your mobile. We use Cloud and 4G for collecting and storing records for all tests and patients. It's all digitalised but at the same time we haven't lost the human touch. The CT scan can be completed in one and half seconds and that helps in reducing radiation. Operation theatres are imported from Germany.

You have also managed to bring 50 doctors and surgeons back to the country from abroad.
It's heart-warming to welcome back 50 doctors from the UK and US back to India. It is great having them back and they are back to serve in this hospital wholeheartedly.

The Heritage wing of the hospital is special because this is where it all began in 1925.
When we first saw this building, we started imagining what it looked like at that time. This was a beautiful hospital but over the time it had crumpled. So we wanted to bring it back to its original look and dedicate it to Mumbai. We brought back the stone and teak and maintained it and then added all modern technology into the building. So it's a great mix of the old and new.
The wife of Sir HN started the hospital in her husband's memory in 1925. This hospital has a rich legacy. Sardar Patel came here for the hospital's 25th anniversary. For the 50th year, Jayaprakash Narayan had come and in its 90th year we had the privilege of having Narendra Modi.

You have a great interest in the education sector.
When I got married to Mukesh, my only wish was to be able to work and that's when I took up teaching. I used my maiden name Nita Dalal so people didn't know I was Mukesh's wife. Mukesh was putting up the polyester plant in Patalganga 25 years ago and I opened my first school for the employees and children and that is when my journey started. We now run 13 schools and almost 16,000 children we educate. We also have evening classes with NGOs for underprivileged children at the Dhirubhai Ambani school. I want to use digital technology to bridge the gap between rural and urban India. Maybe hold classes for the remote villages through technology.

What plans do you have for the Reliance University?
We are looking at a full spectrum of courses in the Reliance University, science engineering and arts. Plans are being worked out. Education and sport my two greatest loves. Entry to sports happened by default first cricket and now football.
With ISL we will be able reach the youngsters who will be able to pursue it as a profession. The ultimate aim is to see India play in the football World Cup.
I used to stream cricket matches even on holidays. In Kenya in the midst of wildlife I once streamed a match to understand the game and even for football I had to learn the game to enjoy it myself. I learnt what a striker and a midfielder is in football and now I love the game.

How do you give a 110% to whatever you do?
I enjoy everything I do but one thing I enjoy the most is being mom to my fabulous three as I call them. The greatest joy in Mukesh's and my life.

How are the kids taking to their new roles?
Isha graduated from Yale last year and worked in McKinsey for a year and she is now back in India. She has now wholeheartedly jumped into Reliance Jio and Akash dreams and eats Jio. He has been working for a year. Anant is a little young now. He is at Brown. He is passionate about wildlife and animals. They all have varied interests and so different from one another. Anant has a zoo in the house. He saves animals from birds to stray dogs to even reptiles and they stay on. In Jamnagar we have this huge space where we keep animals that we have adopted.

What does Nita Ambani dream of ?
I dream of my children and all children that they should be healthy, get education and contribute in a better way to the society.