Chennai, India chakravif@gmail.com +919962716812

Ambalal Sarabhai

(1890 – 1967) – (Gujarart)

Ambalal Sarabhai(Aged 77) born on February 23, 1890, was an Indian industrialist, philanthropist, institution builder, ardent supporter of Mahatma Gandhi, and a person with varied interests in culture. He was also an active participant in India’s independence movement. In 1927, Sarabhai founded the Swatantra Party (Independent) to compete with Vallabhbhai’s Rashtriya Paksh (Nationalist). However, due to differences between Sarabhai and Vallabhbhai, Sarabhai resigned in 1929.

Even before Gandhi launched any major movement in India, Sarabhai had been an ardent supporter of Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian independence movement since 1916. Sarabhai revived Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram with a generous donation.

In 1947, Sarabhai became the Chairman of the National Planning Committee. The Ambalal Sarabhai Foundation, a trust founded by him, runs a hospital in Vadodara. The Ambalal Sarabhai Foundation for Health, Education & Welfare and Ambalal Sarabhai Trust are the other two major charitable trusts founded by him that are now looked after by his descendants. Together, these trusts run many schools, hospitals, charitable dispensaries, and other welfare activities in Ahmedabad and other cities in Gujarat. He passed away by 13 July 1967.