Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata (J.R.D. Tata): Indian Businessman and Philanthropist
The political and social climate in India over the course of JRD Tata’s life had extremely strong correlation to the British colonization of India, which lasted from the first arrival of the British East India Company in the early 1600’s, to the expansion of the British Raj over the subcontinent in the mid- 1800’s, to the Great War, to World War Two; all the way through 1947 (Keay, 323). In 1947, Britain relinquished its hold on India in favor of consolidating its power and resources back to the United Kingdom following World War Two. For nearly three centuries, European influence had held a tight grip on India, and by the early 1900’s, had remained a massive economic hub. Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata was born in Paris, France, in 1904. It is then clear that he was not born directly into Indian society, rather was accustomed to a European lifestyle through the majority of his young life. The Tata family still had ties with India as JRD’s great grandfather had founded the Tata Group in 1868 there (Encyclopedia, 1). This close association meant that JRD grew up as a very privileged individual. However, coming from a family of privileged did not deter him from embracing his passions: education, self-improvement and, most importantly, flight.
JRD Tata was very passionate about his studies, which took him to places such as Japan and England over the course of his young adult life. Service in the French army delayed his plans to attend University, and the death of his grandfather served as the catalyst that would draw JRD away from pursuing his education. Upon the passing of his grandfather in 1925, JRD assumed a high-ranking position with Tata Sons; a sub-company of Tata Group. By 1929, he accepted full Indian citizenship; additionally, the young Tata had become the director of Tata Sons and one of a select few Indians to hold a commercial pilot’s license. Following this achievement, JRD established Tata Air Mail in order to provide connections in several major cities within the sub-continent. Soon after the development of this new service, JRD’s father passed away, elevating him to the position of chairman of the Tata Group in 1938 (Encyclopedia, 1).
Once he had taken control of Tata Group, JRD Tata continued to grow and expand his organization, following a very capitalist business plan. This expansion included the evolution of his flying services to the creation of Air India in 1946. The time period immediately following World War Two was characterized by the recognition of an India that had been released as a colony by the British, and the reign of a more socialistic government; the Permit Raj. The policies of the new government did not seem to have much effect on the way that JRD ran his organization of companies, and he was strongly opposed to socialist policy (Spirit, 1). Despite his strong resistance, Air India was nationalized by the government in 1953, but retained Tata as chairman up till 1973. This period can be paraphrased by the author Anthony Simpson, whose book, Empires of the Sky reads: “The smooth working of Air India seemed almost opposite to the Indian tradition on the ground… [JRD] could effectively insulate Air India from the domestic obligation to make jobs and dispense favors” (Spirit, 1). This ideology could be seen in the corporate structuring of the sub-companies of Tata Group. Traditionally, large companies in India would be controlled by one family who may have had several different family members heading up each branch of the organization. JRD did not follow this pattern rather; he personally encouraged the hiring of area-specific professionals over his own relatives. In addition to guiding his massive conglomerate of companies, JRD Tata also established numerous educational institutions. Included in this list are the Family Planning Foundation, the JRD Tata and Thelma Tate Trust, which aimed to improve the lives of disadvantaged Indian women, and the International Institute of Population Studies, stemming from his belief that a nation’s strength was the product of a high population (Spirit, 1). These and many others were created for the betterment of life for all Indians.
Jehangir Ratangi Dadabhoy Tata passed away November 29th, 1993. His incredible life was one of great success and charity. Under his command, Tata Group grew exponentially to include businesses in manufacturing, medicine, finance, chemicals, information technology, as well as JRD’s airline. He was a man who believed that his leadership in business directly correlated to the improvement of Indian tradition and culture, and those who have followed in his place have said that he was a man who represented and exalted “Indianness”: progressiveness, benevolence, ethical treatment of all people, and compassion for humanity (Spirit, 1).
Bibliography:
Encyclopedia Britannica Online. S.V. “J.R.D. Tata.” http://www.britannical.com/EBchecked/topic/584078/J-R-D-Tata. (accessed September 22, 2014).
Keay, John. India: A History. New York: Grove Press, 2010.
“Spirit of the Skies.” Tata Group Company History Link, updated 2014. http://www.tata.com/aboutus/articlesinside/PTMQW7fIB6U (accessed September 22, 2014).
