Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata

A visionary ahead of his times, bestowed with India’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna – Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata was truly a multi faceted personality. An avid aviator, he became the first person to obtain the first ever issued pilot license in India. It was his passion for flying that gave birth to India's first commercial airline, Tata Airlines which later became Air India.

JRD Tata was born on July 29, 1904 in Paris. His mother was a French, Suzzane, while his father, Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata was Parsi. He spent his childhood in France and attended the Janson De Sailly School in Paris. He also went to the French Foreign Legion, a unique military unit in the French Army.

JRD Tata belonged to affluent family and the parents had the means to fulfill all his desires. Despite of being from the wealthy family, on his father’s wish, JRD Tata started working as an unpaid apprentice in the Indian company Tata & Sons. In 1938, at an early age of 34 years, he rose to the position to head the company as its Chairman for next 50 years.

Under his able and insightful guidance Tata Group touched the newer heights of financial success while maintaining strong ethical values.

Under his chairmanship the assets of the Tata Group raised from $100 million to $5 billion. He started with 14 enterprises under his leadership – Tata Motors, TCS, Tata Telecommunications, Tata Tea, Titan Industries, Voltas – which till date, are India's one of the best business entities. From information technology to automotive, from electronic appliances to house hold items, JRD Tata expanded Tata groups in various spheres.

He was greatly concerned about the welfare of his workers and initiated a program in 1956 to give workers a stronger voice in the affairs of the company. He provided his employees with good working conditions, free medical aid and accidental compensation. Tata Steel Township was also selected as a UN Global Compact City because of the quality of life, conditions of sanitation, roads and welfare that were offered by Tata Steel.

JRD was the trustee of Sir Dorabji Tata Trust from its inception in 1932 for over half a century. Under his direction, this Trust established Asia's first cancer hospital, the Tata Memorial Center for Cancer, Research and Treatment, in Bombay in 1941.

More than being just a successful business, the group played a very active role in making the Indian society better. He launched host of initiatives in the employee welfare, education and healthcare.

In 1992 he was honored with United Nations Population Award for his incessant endeavors towards initiating and prosperously implementing the Family Planning Movement in India. India is truly blessed to have a son like Jehangir Rataji Dadabhoy Tata.

Disclaimer: All information, views or opinions expressed in the above story are solely based on information gathered from secondary sources such as data-freely available on various websites, portals etc. We do not assume any responsibility or liability of the information stated in the above story.

Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata

Follow us on: