On his 21st birthday he wrote to his father, " One more year has fallen on my shoulders. I have been looking back and also deep inside myself with the merciless eye of conscience, and have been trying to find out whether during this last year I have gained in experience or wisdom. I haven't found out much yet!"
At the age of 89 he was known to the world as: One of India's greatest industrialists; pioneer aviator and founder of Air India; only industrialist to be conferred India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna; an institution builder; a philanthropist; an educationist and much more...
Above everything else he was known as, 'God's gift to India'.
Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata or simply J.R.D. or Jeh
The transformation of a self-indulgent if thoughful young man to a pan Indian icon, revered by people who knew nothing about business, is the essence of the J.R.D story.
Born on 29th July, 1904 in Paris in the illustrious Tata family, J.R.D's father was a cousin and business partner of Tata Sons founder, Jamsetji Tata.
J.R.D. had education in parts in France, Japan and Britain before his father summoned him to India to join Tata Sons as an apprentice. By the age of 22 he had lost both his parents and was left alone to care for his four siblings. After his father's death he was inducted as a director in Tata Sons. It was then he expressed, " I want to be worthy of Tatas".
J.R.D. plunged into the Tata business and at the age of 34 he was made the Tata group chairman, the position he reliquished in 1991.
For more than 50 years he served the Tata group and the nation with distinction. For him the Tata group was not a mere private enterprise but a national institution, on which the country can look up to for its services.
He was the person behind the inception and rise of national institutes like Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital, National Centre for Performing Arts, The Population Foundation of India, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
The first and the last passion of his life was 'Aviation'. He was the founder of Tata Airlines which was later nationalized and renamed, Air India.
By the age of 40 he had invested his Tata shares to set up 'J.R.D. Tata Trust'. The trust was to specifically work for underprivileged women and children.
He married Thelma Vicaji after a brief romance. The couple didn't have children.
Forever young he could be seen skiing at the Swiss Alps at the age of 85.
It was said about Oliver Cromwell, 'Though God had given him a heart, yet he did exceeded in tenderness towards sufferers.' It rings true for J.R.D. as well.
He would be remember, first and foremost, for being an ethical and compassionate businessman. J.R.D never bent rules to accommodate his or his group's cause. Nor did he use political connections to get his job done. He made the words 'Honest Businessman' compatible.
Time magazine described the Tata Group as 'squeaky clean'.
J.R.D.'s legacy has been brilliantly carried forward by his grand-nephew,our very own Ratan Tata, who himself has become an icon for billions of Indians.
The noble bit of India passed away on 29th November, 1993.
We salute the spirit of the skies and of course 'Aapro J.R.D.'
The writer of this blog, is one of the privileged few, to be allowed to visit J.R.D's residence in Mumbai. He will cherish those moments his whole life.
'
