THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, MARCH 16, 2026

Urging young minds to dream fearlessly and pursue their goals with dedication, Reliance Foundation Chairperson Nita M. Ambani told thousands of students that “This is just the beginning, not your final goal. You should dream big, and to achieve those dreams, you must work hard with dedication.” Her inspiring message resonated across the sprawling campus of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) where she was conferred the prestigious KISS Humanitarian Award 2025 on Monday.

The award was presented by Nobel Laureate from Sri Lanka Mohan Munasinghe in the presence of Achyuta Samanta, Founder of KIIT University, KISS and KIMS. Senior functionaries of the institutions, dignitaries and thousands of students attended the ceremony at the KISS campus in Bhubaneswar.

The honour recognised 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, Ambani said that Samanta has built two modern temples of education — KIIT and KISS. These two institutions are a matter of pride for the country. She said she felt proud to receive the prestigious KISS Humanitarian Award and added that the honour was not hers alone, but belonged to the entire team of Reliance Foundation.

Addressing nearly 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.

Expressing her deep emotions during the visit, Ambani said she was overwhelmed to come to the pious land of Lord Jagannath. She also noted that Odisha has a rich culture, traditions and values, and that the people of the state share a deep and strong connection with nature.

Highlighting the importance of gender equality, she said there is no difference between boys and girls and that whatever boys can do, girls can do as well. Advising the students further, she said they should never leave the path of righteousness and always remain committed to their dreams. “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.

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

The trophy symbolises 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.

In his welcome speech, Samanta said, “Success doesn’t mean achieving things only for yourself; true success is bringing light into the lives of others.” Giving 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 one and 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. He thanked Ambani for graciously accepting the KISS Humanitarian Award.