The Reliance Foundation’s Vantara in Gujarat’s Jamnagar is rooted in Sanatan beliefs, as every deity has an animal as a vahana, said Anant Ambani, son of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani and philanthropist Nita Ambani. He said the newly announced initiative is driven by the cause of animal welfare and his will to give back to society.
Soon to be married to fiancee Radhika Merchant, Anant said while there are many working for human welfare, there are few in animal welfare. Conceived by him and announced on Monday, Vantara is a first-of-its-kind comprehensive animal rescue, care, conservation and rehabilitation programme. Spread over 3,000 acres in the green belt of Reliance’s Jamnagar Refinery Complex, it has more than 2,000 rescued animals across 43 species from around the world.
“So, as you know, in our Sanatan (Dharma), every deity has an animal close to their heart. Every deity has a vahana, which is an animal. In the Rigveda, too, (Hindu deity) Krishna says all life is equal, be it human or a bee, or an ant. Here (Vantara), we take care [of animals] from frogs to mice to everything,” Anant told News18 in an exclusive interview.
“Something that drives my cause is animal welfare. There are a lot of people working [for human welfare] but in animal welfare, there are few people working. I think I was the chosen one and am fortunate enough for God’s blessings… that I could do Seva of animals,” he said.
Anant further said he sees God in every animal, especially with regard to Hindu beliefs that hold the cow as revered. “For me, in today’s life, you can’t see God but I see God in every animal. They say in our dharma that in a cow, there are 64 crore devtas. But for me, not only in a cow, but I see in every animal. So it’s my giving back to society,” he added.
For the animal lover, it is not just about animal welfare but also personal healing. He believes that rescuing and rehabilitating animals has helped him overcome some of the toughest battles of his life.
“I’ve healed a lot in my own way, and I think it’s all because of the animals. I’ve had my own battles with myself, battles with health. But I’ve overcome that. And I think one of the biggest reasons is the blessings of these animals we have rescued. More than that, it also makes me feel that we’re contributing back to society in some way,” he said.
Anant, who is gearing up for his pre-wedding festivities in Jamnagar, said now that he has another person to share his passion with, he will be able to realise a larger vision.
“I’m going to have one more person. Radhika is also extremely passionate about this. So, I think both of us combined and with my parents’ blessings and my siblings’ [Akash and Isha] blessings, I think what you’ve seen now is only 8 to 10 percent of my vision,” he said.
He further said his vision is to make Vantara the world’s most advanced wildlife institute, where critically endangered species are conserved and bred so that they can be released back into their habitat.
“A lot of species, even today as we speak, are going extinct. In Hindi, there’s a saying called chidiyaghar. This is not that, but a sevalaya where we only rehabilitate, rescue, preserve, conserve and breed endangered species. It’s not a zoo and not for any entertainment,” said Anant about the project that is so close to his heart.
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