The founder of Tata industrial empire, Jamshedji Tata had two able sons in Dorabji Tata and Sir Ratan Tata who inherited his legacy. Sir Dorabji was elder son. He received unstinted cooperation of his younger brother Sir Ratan Tata and capable guidance and assistance from his uncle Jahangir Ratan Dadabhai Tata. The three took good care of Tata ventures and worked hard to realise the unfulfilled dreams of Jamshedji Tata. They gave concrete shapes to the projects visualised by Jamshedji. Under the leadership of Dorabji, his family’s industrial endeavour founded ‘Integrated Steel Plant’ in India during colonial rule of British. It was then the biggest industrial venture of private sector.
Three hydro-electric Power companies were also established by Sir Dorabji Tata. The achievements of Dorabji can be briefly sketched as under :
❑ Establishment of Industrial Institute of Science at Bangalore (Bangaluru). Thus, he filled the shades in the picture his father Jamshedji had seen.
❑ In 1910 Dorabji was knighted with ‘Sir’ title by the king of England. His works were appreciated and his social concerns and benevolence cited.
❑ The three hydro-electric projects were set up in cooperation and collaboration with Ratan Dadabhai Tata.
❑ By founding Jamshedpur Steel Plant he paid biggest tribute to his father Jamshedji Tata. It was the largest industrial project undertaken in private sector in India.
❑ Under capable direction of J.R.D. Tata he set up two cement factories.
❑ Under the guidance of J.R.D. he started an air service unit expanding the scope of Tata enterprises.
❑ Dorabji Tata was deeply interested in sporting activities. He contributed his bit in polishing the Indian players. His efforts to get Indian participation in Olympics were commendable. He served as the President of Indian Olympic Council for a period. For 1924 Paris Olympiad Dorabji bore entire expenses of Indian contingent.
❑ Dorabji believed that money and riches must be used in constructive works.
❑ In 1932 Dorabji turned over his entire wealth and a 245 carat Jubille diamond to a trust. His diamond was larger than the famous Kohinoor. In Indian currency then, it was valued at 110 million
rupees. The trust was founded to help higher education and research and in aid of the suffering people. After his death this trust is known as ‘Sir Dorabji Tata Trust’.
❑ He also founded ‘Lady Tata Memorial Trust’. It was set up to aid the research on blood related diseases.
Thus, as the third generation manager of Tata Industries and Foundations Sir Dorabji Tata played a very remarkable and progressive role. He gave the ideals of his father Jamshedji a proper place in his industrial policies. As has become apparent that money grabbing had never been his aim. Sir Dorabji was more keen on planning how his wealth could be spent for the benefit of the society and country. Bringing prosperity to India was his overall goal. A captain of a leading industrial family has social and national duties and here Dorabji excelled. His contributions to the industry, society and the country are too great to be forgotten or overlooked.
Sir Ratan Tata
The younger son of Jamshedji Tata was Ratan Jamshedji Tata. It may be noted that this Ratan Tata is not the one this book is about. Sir Ratan Jamshedji Tata was the younger brother of Dorabji Tata.
Tata family has produced three characters by the name ‘Ratan’. The first was ‘Ratanji Dadabhai Tata’, the contemporary of Jamshedji Tata, infact his cousin brother. The second was ‘Sir Ratan Tata’, the subject of this chapter and the younger brother of Sir Dorabji Tata. The third is ‘Ratan Naval Tata’, the main subject of this book and the son of Naval Tata.
Sir Ratan Tata was in his own right an illustrious character, a great lover of arts, collector, philanthropist, a man of charity, generosity and kindness. Travelling and visiting places was his passion. He was knighted and earned the title of ‘Sir’ from the British Crown like his brother.
Sir Ratan Tata was born on January 20, 1871. He graduated from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. He got married to Navazbai. Sir Ratan Tata was a sentimental character and had artistic bend of mind. His thoughts were deep and very futuristic. Some salient points of works of Sir Ratan Tata are listed below which should clearly illustrate his role in the Tata tradition :
❑ To take the industrial ventures of Tata family to new heights Sir Ratan Tata gave valuable assistance to his brother Sir Dorabji. There was not much difference of age between the two brothers. So, they were more like contemporary associates, mates and made a good team.
❑ The father, Jamshedji’s humanitarian values had made a deep impression on Sir Ratan Tata. He was very compassionate and kind. He always tried to be true to the ideals of his noble father.
❑ National concerns meant a lot to Sir Ratan Tata. He was full of patriotic feelings and wished to see India free of slavery. He gave a
generous monetary aid to Gandhiji to help him carry on his crusade against white regime of South Africa that was denying human right to Indian workers.
❑ Sir Ratan Tata played a stellar role in taking India on the way to industrial progress. He was equal partner in blood, sweat and toil in setting up the industries his brother Sir Dorabji is credited for. He played the role of an able leiutenant to his brother in founding Iron and Steel industry, hydro-electric works, cement plants and soap making factories.
❑ The special characteristics of Sir Ratan Tata were his kindness, generosity and helpfulness. He was ever ready to help out a suffering person or charitable organisations.
❑ In helping out Indian economy through industry or providing funds to deserving institutions he proved true heir to his father’s noble spirit. Sir Ratan Tata even offered his time and services to organisations engaged in social services and national welfare.
❑ Sir Ratan Tata and the freedom struggle stalwart Gopal Krishna Gokhale were good friends. He had agreed to give an annual grant of Rs. 10, 000 to ‘Servants of India Society’ Gokhale was part of. Sir Ratan Tata helped ‘Bharat Sevak Samaj’ too that was engaged in the upliftment of the weakers sections of the society.
❑ When Gandhiji was fighting a battle of self respect and human rights for Indian labourers in South Africa, Ratan Tata spared a total amount of Rs. 1,25,000 between 1909-1913 to help Gandhiji carry on his just cause.
❑ When Gandhiji received donations from Sir Ratan Tata he wrote—”The generous amount spared by Sir Ratan Jamshedji Tata proves that Indians are conscious of the need to protect our self-respect and rights. The monetary help has greatly inspired our struggle. I hope other Indians will also follow his example.” Parsi community is famous all over the world for their generosity. Ratan Tata is the true carrier of the spirit of generosity.
❑ Sir Ratan Tata gave his important contribution whenever it was needed of him. In 1912 he provided financial assistance to London University. For the studies of works of charities and social services he provided annual grant of £1400 for three years. Even today ‘Sir Ratan Tata Foundation’ is there as part of ‘London School of Economics’.
❑ Sir Ratan Tata was a great patron of arts and cultures. He loved travelling. He visited almost all the parts of India. During these tours he collected pictures, paintings, rare manuscripts, ancient literature and antique shawls. He also acquired ancient weapons, horses of different colours and during his Paris visit bought ornaments for his collection. During his England sojjourn he bought a great many antique items of 17th century and enriched his private museum.
In England Sir Ratan Tata bought a traditional royal mansion made of red bricks. It had French style frontal facade. It was his palace abroad. The mansion was called ‘York House’. Lady Tata used to stay in this house whenever she visited England and spent time there. Sir Ratan Tata used to keep his antique collection in this York House. During his visit to eastern countries Ratan Tata bought Chinese and Japanese wall hangings, ivory items and engraved ivory ornaments. In 1919, his collection was valued at Rs. 5 lacs. In 1921 the collection was donated to Prince of Wales Museum of Mumbai as he had wished in his will. It showed his dedication to art and love for his country.
A holistic view reveals that Sir Ratan Tata was a gem of a character and very noble soul. He had an industrial outlook and thought the industrial expansion would help banish poverty from the lives of Indian people. He was an art lover and gracious person. As a son he was an image of his father and he tried his best to redeem the unfulfilled dreams of his father. The ideals of his father became the guidelines of his life. In the context of industrial revolution of India the name of Sir Ratan Tata would also hold a lofty place. His generosity kindness and compassion will always be remembered as the brightest aspects of his character.
In July, 1916 Sir Ratan Tata seriously fell ill. On the advice of his private physician he was shifted to England. But the best medical help of London also could not save him. His condition deteriorated, yet he bravely fought on. But on September 5, 1918 he breathed his last at St. Ivys Cornwall. Then, he was only 47 years old.
He was childless. His wife Navazbai Tata inherited his legacy. In 1919 ‘Sir Ratan Tata Trust’ was founded. It cost Rs. 80 lacs. The trust still stands there as a very ancient memorial.
Sir Ratan Tata had written in his will ”If I leave behind no son or daughter as my heir then my entire property and wealth may be spent on the spread of education, expansion of industries, science, arts and charity or welfare works for people.”
But Nawazbai Tata (his wife) wanted her husband to have a heir who may carry on his legacy as his son. For this purpose, after the death of Sir Ratan Tata, his wife Navazbai adopted Naval as her son. Naval was the son of Hormusji Tata. Thus the adopted son of Navazbai—Sir Ratan Tata became one of the inheritors of Tata legacy as Naval Tata. The family line of Sir Ratan Tata moved forward through Naval Tata.
