. R. D.

Tata
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata

July 29, 1904

Born
Paris, France
November 29, 1993 (aged 89)
Died
Geneva, Switzerland
Occupation Industrialist
Spouse(s) Thelma Vicaji

Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata (July 29, 1904–November 29, 1993) was a pioneer
aviator and important businessman of India. He was awarded Bharat Ratna during his life
time[1].

Contents
[hide]

• 1 Early life
 • 2 Businessman
• 3 References

• 4 External links

[edit] Early life

J.R.D. Tata was born in Paris, France, the second child of Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata and his
French wife, Suzanne "Sooni" Brière[2][3]. His father was a first cousin of Jamsetji Tata, a
pioneer industrialist in India. 'Jeh', or 'JRD' as he was commonly known, came to be
regarded as the most famous industrial pioneer in modern India. As his mother was
French, he spent much of his childhood in France and as a result, French was his first
language. Tata also attended the French Foreign Legion. He attended the Cathedral and
John Connon School, Bombay (now Mumbai).

J.R.D. Tata was inspired early by aviation pioneer Louis Blériot, and took to flying. In
1929 Tata got the first pilot license issued in India. He later came to be known as the
father of Indian civil aviation. He founded India's first commercial airline, 'Tata Airlines',
in 1932, which in 1946 became Air India, now India's national airline.

[edit] Businessman

J.R.D. Tata with his successor Ratan Tata.

J.R.D. Tata studied engineering at the University of Cambridge. He did not continue
beyond matriculation as mentioned in his biography, by Mr R M Lala.

At the age of 34, he became Chairman of Tata Sons, the holding Company of the Tata
Group. For decades, J R D directed the huge Tata Group of companies, with major
interests in Steel, Engineering, Power,Chemicals and Hospitality. He was famous for
succeeding in business while maintaining high ethical standards - refusing to bribe
politicians or use the black market. Under J R D's Chairmanship, the number of
companies in the Tata Group, grew from 15 to over 100. Monetarily, the assets of Tata
group grew from Rs 62 crores to over Rs 10000 crores.

He was awarded the Legion d'honneur, by the French Government in 1954. He also
received the prestigious Guggenheim Medal for aviation in 1988. He was conferred
India's highest civilian award in 1992 for his service to industry and nation building. He
died in Geneva, Switzerland in 1993 at the age of 89. He is buried at Père Lachaise
Cemetery in Paris.

I do not take myself too seriously.