# Alfred Ford > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Alfred_Ford > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Alfred_Ford.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Ford > Source revision: 1347398111 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Alfred Brush Ford**, also known as **Ambarish Das** (),[4] is an American businessman and the great-grandson of [Henry Ford](/source/Henry_Ford), founder of the [Ford Motor Company](/source/Ford_Motor_Company).[3] He joined the [ISKCON](/source/International_Society_for_Krishna_Consciousness), a [Gaudiya Vaishnava](/source/Gaudiya_Vaishnavism) group in 1975.[5] Ford is the chairman of the Sri Mayapur [Temple of the Vedic Planetarium](/source/Temple_of_the_Vedic_Planetarium) (TOVP), which is building the world's largest Vedic Hindu Temple in Mayapur, West Bengal, [India](/source/India).[6][7] ## Background See also: [Ford family tree](/source/Ford_family_tree) Alfred Ford's father was Walter B. Ford II (1920–1991, *unrelated to Henry Ford*), whose family was prominent in chemical manufacturing in the Downriver area south of Detroit. His mother, [Josephine Clay Ford](/source/Josephine_Clay_Ford) (1923–2005), was the daughter of [Edsel Ford](/source/Edsel_Ford) (1893–1943) and granddaughter of [Henry Ford](/source/Henry_Ford) (1863–1947).[4] Alfred and [William Clay Ford Jr.](/source/William_Clay_Ford_Jr.) (b. 1957), the current executive chairman of the [Ford Motor Co.](/source/Ford_Motor_Co.), are first cousins. Alfred's mother was the sister of [William Clay Ford Sr.](/source/William_Clay_Ford_Sr.) (1925–2014), William Clay Ford, Jr.'s father. Ford Motor Company was one of ChannelNet's early clients.[8] ## Personal life Alfred Ford's maternal great grandfather [Henry Ford](/source/Henry_Ford) was a pioneer of middleclass travel for Americans, as he introduced the [Ford Model T](/source/Ford_Model_T) on October 1, 1908, which brought his [Ford Motor Company](/source/Ford_Motor_Company) instant success, as it became the first mass-produced affordable automobile, at the world's first assembly line for cars in [Michigan](/source/Michigan), USA, the center of the [U.S. automotive industry](/source/Automotive_industry_in_the_United_States). Headquartered in [Dearborn, Michigan](/source/Dearborn,_Michigan), it has been in continuous family control since, June 16, 1903; and is one of the largest family-controlled companies in the world.[9] Presently it is [William Clay Ford Jr](/source/William_Clay_Ford_Jr), who is an active, executive chairman of [Ford Motor Company](/source/Ford_Motor_Company) since 1999. After his initiation as a fervent disciple of [Swami Prabhupada](/source/A._C._Bhaktivedanta_Swami_Prabhupada) in 1974, his life became enmeshed with [India](/source/India) and [Hinduism](/source/Hinduism).[10] A vegetarian, teetotaller and a staunch devotee of [Krishna](/source/Krishna), he met his wife Sharmila Bhattacharya, at a Rathayatra festival in Sydney, in 1982, organized by ISKCON. Sharmila is the daughter of Dhrubadeb Bhattacharya, a doctor, who migrated with his family to Australia, and her mother Shukla, both deeply devoted and returning to India very often, at [Naihati](/source/Naihati), imbibing religion and culture in Sharmila. Alfred and Sharmila got married in 1984. At ISKCON, Alfred Ford was named, *Ambarish Das* and Sharmila as *Svaha Devi Dasi*.[11] The couple have two daughters, both having Bengali names; namely Amrita and Anisha.[12] Anisha Ford, who got a million dollars as a gift from her grandmother, as a reward for studying to secure a master’s degree from Harvard University, donated it all to the construction efforts of Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir.[13] ## Association with ISKCON In 1974, Ford initiated as a disciple of [A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada](/source/A.C._Bhaktivedanta_Swami_Prabhupada) (Srila Prabhupada), whom he first met in [Dallas](/source/Dallas), USA.[14] He joined the [International Society for Krishna Consciousness](/source/International_Society_for_Krishna_Consciousness) (the *[Hare Krishnas](/source/International_Society_for_Krishna_Consciousness)*) in 1975, and that same year he made his first trip to [India](/source/India) with Prabhupada.[15] Ford assisted in the establishment of the first Hindu temple in [Hawaii](/source/Hawaii) and also donated $500,000 to help establish the Bhaktivedanta Cultural Centre in [Detroit](/source/Detroit)[15] which was completed in 1983.[3] Alfred Ford has made many significant donations to ISKCON over the years, which have assisted ongoing projects to build the Pushpa Samadhi Mandir of Prabhupada. In 2003 Ford spent a week in Moscow lobbying for the construction of a proposed $10 million Vedic cultural centre. It was said that Ford would "make a significant financial contribution for the project" if it happened.[16] He also bought a $600,000 mansion to house a Hare Krishna temple and learning centre in [Honolulu](/source/Honolulu).[3] Ford is the chairman of the Sri Mayapur [Temple of the Vedic Planetarium](/source/Temple_of_the_Vedic_Planetarium) (also called TOVP), which is building the world's largest Vedic Hindu Temple in Mayapur, West Bengal, India at the sacred birthplace of [Chaitanya Mahaprabhu](/source/Chaitanya_Mahaprabhu), a prominent figure in the ISKCON's Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition.[6][7] On March 1, 2024, Ford addressed the gathering of Krishna devotees during the opening of the east wing of the temple in Mayapur.[7] ## Health issues On July 22, 2025, Ambarīśa Dasa suffered a [stroke](/source/Stroke) while visiting the US state of Maine. It was reported he was in critical condition on July 23, 2025 by [ISKCON News](/source/ISKCON_News).[17] On August 6, 2025 it was reported he had been discharged from the hospital and was undergoing his recovery in a [rehabilitation facility](/source/Rehabilitation_hospital).[17] On August 10, 2025, TOVP Vice Chairman H.G. Braja Vilasa Das made a call for prayer, reporting Ford had returned to critical condition in hospital. As of September 10, 2025, Ford had been discharged from the rehabilitation facility and was living at home with his daughter.[18] ## References 1. ["Alfred B Ford On Gujarat Tour To Raise Funds For ISKCON Temple"](https://web.archive.org/web/20171110222345/http://m.vishwagujarat.com/gujarat/alfred-b-ford-on-gujarat-tour-to-raise-funds-for-iskcon-temple/). *Vishwa Gujarat*. January 29, 2017. Archived from [the original](http://m.vishwagujarat.com/gujarat/alfred-b-ford-on-gujarat-tour-to-raise-funds-for-iskcon-temple/) on November 10, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2017. 1. ["Ford scion in Gujarat to raise funds for ISKCON temple"](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/ford-scion-in-gujarat-to-raise-funds-for-iskcon-temple/articleshow/56841364.cms). *[The Times of India](/source/The_Times_of_India)*. January 29, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2017. 1. Sangghvi, Malavika (March 6, 2005). ["The Billionaire Bhakta"](http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1042366,curpg-1.cms). *The Times of India*. Retrieved August 25, 2006. 1. ["Alfred Ford is Building a Multi-Million Dollar Monument in India"](http://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/money-and-power/news/a4350/alfred-ford-multi-million-dollar-monument-india/). Town & Country. November 23, 2015. Retrieved September 12, 2016. 1. ["Alfred Ford on spiritual journey"](https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/alfred-ford-on-spiritual-journey/story-KwXGxtn4hvjDr8NVu2wY4O.html). *Hindustan Times*. 2006-02-11. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220214044915/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/alfred-ford-on-spiritual-journey/story-KwXGxtn4hvjDr8NVu2wY4O.html) February 14, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-03-30. 1. ["Temple of Vedic Planeterium – meet-the-team"](https://tovp.org/meet-the-team/fundraising-department/). Temple of Vedic Planeterium. Retrieved May 31, 2012. 1. Kildee, Katy. ["Alfred and Sharmila Ford help build world's largest Vedic temple in Mayapur India"](https://www.detroitnews.com/picture-gallery/media/photo/2024/05/15/alfred-and-sharmila-ford-help-build-worlds-largest-vedic-temple-in-india/73564581007/). *The Detroit News*. Retrieved 2025-03-30. 1. ["Alfred ford is member of Board of Directors and Advisory Board"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220519110001/http://channelnet.com/DirectorsAdvisors), archived from [the original](https://www.channelnet.com/DirectorsAdvisors) on May 19, 2022, retrieved November 2, 2020 1. [The World’s 250 Largest Family Businesses](https://www.griequity.com/resources/industryandissues/familybusiness/topglobal.html) 1. [GIBS Business School](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxBMqGPVOjU) 1. [This Ford has more on his mind than cars](https://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/this-ford-has-more-on-his-mind-than-cars) 1. [Alfred and Sharmila](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/A-Bengali-bou-at-the-Ford-home/articleshow/18702635.cms) 1. [India’s Largest Vedic Planetarium Temple Opens at ISKCON Mayapur with Help of Ford Scion & his Indian Wife](https://iskconnews.org/our-other-family-business-the-tovp-by-amrita-and-anisha-ford/)[\[1\]](https://iskconnews.org/meet-alfred-ford-the-great-grandson-of-henry-ford-and-a-gainesville-resident/) 1. [Alfred Ford](https://www.youtube.com/UIIygo5-qeU) on YouTube 1. Krebs, Albin & Thomas, Robert Mcg. Jr (November 9, 1981). ["Notes on People; Alfred Ford Takes a Turn to the Spiritual"](https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E06E3DA1E39F93AA35752C1A967948260). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. Retrieved August 25, 2006. 1. ["Alfred Ford Lobbies For Vedic Centre In Moscow"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070805045124/http://www.vnn.org/world/WD0310/WD21-8417.html). *[Hindustan Times](/source/Hindustan_Times)*. October 21, 2003. Archived from [the original](http://www.vnn.org/world/WD0310/WD21-8417.html) on August 5, 2007. Retrieved August 25, 2006. – via VNN Vaishnava News. 1. ["Urgent Request of Prayers for Ambarisa Dasa (Alfred Ford)"](https://iskconnews.org/urgent-request-of-prayers-for-ambarisa-dasa-alfred-ford/). *ISKCON News*. July 23, 2025. Retrieved July 23, 2025. 1. ["Ambarisa Prabhu Daily Health Updates from TOVP Vice Chairman H.G. Braja Vilasa Das"](https://tovp.org/ambarisa-prabhu-health-updates/). *Temple of the Vedic Planetarium*. Aug 10, 2025. Retrieved Aug 11, 2025. ## See also - [Ford Foundation](/source/Ford_Foundation) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Alfred Ford](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Ford) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Ford?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.