#memory
J. R. D. Tata.
29 November is the death anniversary of J R D Tata (1904-1993).
JRD was born a French citizen in Paris, as the son of Sir Ratan D Tata and his French wife.
He returned to India in 1925 to join Tata Sons and became an Indian citizen in 1929.
This son of R D Tata, cousin and colleague of the founder Jamshedji Tata, was appointed Chairman of the Tata group in 1938 at the young age of 34, following the sudden demise of Sir Navaroji Saklatvala.
JRD continued to head the industrial conglomerate for the next 50 years.
The young Jehangir had a fascination for flying and became the first person to earn a pilot’s license issued in India in 1929. He founded the Tata Airlines in 1932 which later became Air India.
JRD was made the trustee of the Sir Dorabji Trust, Sir Ratan Tata Trust etc in 1932, and in the 50 years as trustee, JRD established the premier institutions like Tata Cancer Center Mumbai, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai, Indian Institute of Science Bangaluru, and the National Center for Performing Arts Mumbai.
JRD can truly be called one of the makers of modern India. He established some of the pioneering industries in India like TELCO ( now Tata Motors) – 1945, Tata Tea ( now Tata Consumer Products)-1964, Tata Consultancy Services ( TCS) – 1968, and Titan Industries -1987.
He was the recipient of numerous International awards and was awarded the highest honour Bharat Ratna in 1992.
JRD and his french wife had no children. Ratan Tata, son of Naval H Tata ( Naval was adopted by Lady Navajbai Tata, wife of Jamshedjis son Sir Ratan Tata) succeeded JRD as Chairman of the Tata Group and the various Tata Trusts.
Among the various biographies of JRD, I found “Beyond the Last Blue Mountain ” by RM Lala, the best.
– Joy Kallivayalil.
