“There was much hype over the list of billionaires that India has thrown up... (but) this is a deceptive distraction,” Mr Mukesh said while referring to Forbes’ worldwide billionaire list that included 53 Indians. “...It is like maya (illusion) of our Indian philosophy .... It veils your vision and we should be beware of this titillating illusion,” he said speaking at India Today Conclave here.

Forbes had ranked Mukesh as the richest resident Indian with a wealth of $43 billion. Among all Indians residing across the world, Mr Mukesh was ranked second after NRI steel tycoon Mr Lakshmi Mittal, whose wealth was put at $45 billion. In the global list, Mr Mukesh Ambani was ranked as fifth richest in the world. Last year, he had been placed at the 14th position in world.

“Respect does not flow from market capitalisation. Pursuit of work and wealth outside the parameters of morality is meaningless,” he said.

He said world is not flat and there are disparities. Indian business leaders have to work to remove the gap between the rich and poor.

He believes that 21st C will be India’s, as Indian business are going global and many business leaders of the country have become a name to reckon in the global scenario.

“For a global business leader, not only intelligence quotient (IQ) but also EQ (emotional quotient) is needed,” he opined.

“It is not about profit, but the end objective should be to solve problems of millions of people,” he said.