Nita M. Ambani, Founder And Chairperson Of Reliance Foundation, Conferred Prestigious KISS Humanitarian Award 2025

Nita M. Ambani, Founder and Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, was conferred the prestigious KISS Humanitarian Award 2025 at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) campus here on Monday.

The award was presented by Nobel Laureate from Sri Lanka, Prof. Mohan Munasinghe, in the presence of the Founder of KIIT, KISS, and KIMS, Dr. Achyuta Samanta. Senior functionaries of the institutions and a large number of students and dignitaries attended the function.

The award recognized Smt. Ambani’s outstanding humanitarian initiatives and her significant contributions to social development through education, healthcare, rural transformation, women empowerment, and sports promotion through the Reliance Foundation.

In her acceptance speech, Smt. Ambani said that Dr. Samanta has built two modern temples of education — KIIT and KISS. “These two institutions are a matter of pride for our country,” she said. She added that she felt proud to receive the prestigious KISS Humanitarian Award and emphasized that the honor is not hers alone but belongs to the entire team of the Reliance Foundation.

Addressing the 40,000 students of KISS, she said, “I will never forget the love and affection you have given me here.” She further said that it was truly a privilege for her to visit the two remarkable institutions, KIIT and KISS.

She expressed that she was overwhelmed to come to the pious land of Lord Jagannath. She also added that Odisha has a rich culture, traditions, and values, and that the people of Odisha share a deep and strong connection with nature.

She said that there is no difference between boys and girls and that whatever boys can do, girls can do as well. Advising the students, she said, “This is just the beginning, not your final goal. You should dream big, and to achieve those dreams, you must work hard with dedication.”

She further advised the students never to leave the path of righteousness. “I see the future of India here in KISS. After seeing the children here, I am confident that the future of India is bright,” she added.

Smt. Ambani said, “Dr. Samanta has built two modern temples, i.e., the temple of education — one is KIIT and the other is KISS. These two institutions are a pride for our country. I feel proud to receive the prestigious KISS Humanitarian Award. This honor is not mine; it is for the entire team of the Reliance Foundation."

“Addressing the 40,000 students of KISS, I will never forget the love and affection you have given me here. It is truly a privilege for me to visit these two remarkable institutions, KIIT and KISS. I am overwhelmed to come to the pious land of Lord Jagannath. Odisha has a rich culture, tradition, and manners, and the people of Odisha have a strong relation with nature.”

The KISS Humanitarian Award, initiated in 2008 by Dr. Samanta, is the highest honor of KISS, dedicated to recognizing individuals and organizations that embody the spirit of humanitarian work worldwide. The award consists of a citation scroll and a gold-plated trophy.

The trophy symbolizes the golden heart of a humanitarian, representing the virtues of purity, kindness, prosperity, and hope. It features a pair of hands uplifting a heart textured with shapes resembling waving hands, signifying how dedicated efforts can transform the lives of the underprivileged and make the world a better place.

Over the years, the award has been conferred on eminent global leaders, Nobel laureates, and distinguished personalities from across continents. Previous recipients include Ratan Tata; His Holiness The Dalai Lama; President of the International Volleyball Federation, Ary S. Graça; First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, Mama Rachel Ruto; Cabinet Minister in the South African National Assembly, Madam Edna Bomo Molewa; noted physician and President & Founder of Hanseo University, South Korea, Dr. Ham-Kee Sun; Co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates; Founder of Grameen Bank, Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus; Former President of Mauritius, Anerood Jugnauth; President (Chief Justice) of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, Nicholas Addison Phillips; Prime Minister of Bhutan, Jigmi Y. Thinley; and Founder of FXB International, Switzerland, Madam Albina du Boisrouvray, among others.

KISS is the largest university for tribals in the world, providing free education from kindergarten to postgraduate level, accommodation, and holistic development to nearly 80,000 tribal children.

In his welcome speech, Dr. Samanta said, “Success doesn’t mean achieving things only for yourself; true success is bringing light into the lives of others.” Giving the example of Nita Ambani, he said, “Great initiatives never go in vain if you try with dedication.” He praised Nita for her multi-dimensional social work, for which she is loved and respected by all. “In this materialistic world, earning love and respect is not easy. However, Mrs. Ambani has earned immense love and respect from people for her noble social and humanitarian work. We thank Mrs. Ambani for graciously accepting the KISS Humanitarian Award.”