The man who took India to the skies

In a family that had a solid foundation of steel, a child with wings was born. Not only did he possess wings, but he also took it upon himself to bestow it upon the entire nation. This is the story of JRD Tata, the founder of India's first airlines and India's first aviator.
JRD Tata; Image source: Wikipedia

JRD Tata; Image source: Wikipedia

Bharat Ratna Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata, more famously known as JRD Tata was born on 29 June 1904. He was born in the same year as the death of his grandfather Jamsetji Tata, the founder of the Tata steel the father of the Indian industrial revolution.

It's hard to express everything this man has done for India in a defined space. Let's start with the story of Air India.

He had a great passion for flying but there were no other commercial pilots in India at that time. In 1929 he became the first Indian to receive a license for flying aircraft. His license card had a No. 1 printed on it.

But then he saw the rest of India. While he was reaching for skies the rest of India stayed stuck to the ground. It was confined to roadways, railways and waterways. He knew what he wanted; what he wanted was for the entire nation to fly as he could. And thus, three years later India's first airlines' services was founded- Tata airlines today known as Air India, the country's national carrier. And JRD Tata became the father of Indian Civil Aviation.

JRD Tata never went to a university. He was made the Chairman of the Tata Sons at age of 34. This was a young age to be made the Chairman of the largest industrial group in India. There were people who were very senior to him who could have taken the job, many of whom waited for JRD to mess up at his job so they could overpower him later. However, JRD never gave that opportunity.

Tata was already one of the top functioning steel firms. This man expanded Tata to its greatest heights. Even today, Tata is present in every field. From the salt, you eat to the car you drive. His company spread its roots in science, social development and rural development. He is the founder of TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) which is credited to being the backbone of the service sector of India, Tata Motors, Titan Industries, Tata Salt, Voltas and as we already saw Air India.

The India that you witness today has been a gift from JRD Tata. Even today, India lies on the shoulders of the Tata Group. This particular group could have been among the richest of the World however most of their incomes goes in philanthropic and charitable projects. The man who made Tata a company for the people was JRD Tata.

He maintained high business ethical standards and refused any kinds of bribes from politicians and the use of the black market. JRD Tata was no Industrialist, he was a humanitarian.

As already mentioned he had expanded Tata in every sector possible. This generated a huge amount of job opportunities for all. The one thing JRD is most known for is how well he treated his employees. JRD began the process of fixing work hours for his employees, providing them with a residence, giving free medical facilities and pension schemes. Never ever has a company been seen that gave this kind of benefits towards employees.

The Government of India was so impressed by his methods that they decided to adopt the principles of GRD Tata. The benefits that people receive in a government job that they are so proud of is a gift from JRD Tata.

He said that a worker is at work the minute he leaves his home for the office, which means the company is liable for any mishaps that happen on the way. This is why he began the culture of giving residence to his employees. To date, all the PSUs follow this method of giving residence to their employees.

JRD believed that a great leader is formed by happy employees; it is only when the employees respect you that you become a great leader.

Interestingly, it is normal for industrialists or economists to believe that the economy should be the greatest moving force of a country since gaining profits is their motive. However, JRD Tata didn't actually behave like an industrialist. Even after being the chairman of India's greatest industry, he believed that the country shouldn't be about capitalism and generating profits but about the welfare of the people.

Action speaks louder than words. He invested a lot in social work, philanthropic activities and the health sector of India. He became the trustee of Sir Dorabji Tata Trust that established Asia's first cancer research and treatment, the Tata Memorial Centre for Cancer, in Bombay in 1941.

India badly needed funds for research which is why he established the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS, 1936) and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR, 1945), and the National Center for Performing Arts.

Ratan Tata, the former chairman of Tata gave the credit of everything that Tata became to JRD Tata.

JRD Tata in an interview was asked," You have done so much how does it feel? JRD Tata modestly replied that everything he had, has been inherited by him. He had done absolutely nothing except for Air India. Air India is the only thing he has of his own. After nationalisation, Tata lost most of its shares of Air India.

If you follow the news, you might have heard how Tata has bought back Air India. Air India has flown back home.

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