A Biography of Jamsetji Tata

Introduction

Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata was born 3 March 1839 and died 19 May 1904 was an Indian pioneer industrialist who founded the Tata Group, India's biggest conglomerate company. Named the greatest philanthropist of the last century by several polls and ranking lists, he also established the city of Jamshedpur. Jamshedji Tata is regarded as the legendary and titled "Father of Indian Industry". He was so influential in the world of industry that Jawaharlal Nehru referred to Tata as a One-Man Planning Commission.

Early Life

Jamsetji Tata was born to Nusserwanji and Jeevanbai Tata on 3 March 1839 in Navsari, a city located in southern Gujarat. His family was a part of a group that had fled from the persecution of Zoroastrians in Iran. He was born in a poor family containing priests and sages. He broke his family tradition of becoming a priest and decided to forge his own path in the field of business. He started an export trading firm in Mumbai. At the age of 14 his father enrolled him at Elphinstone College in Bombay. He was completing his education as a ‘Green Scholar’, which is the equivalent of a graduate. While still a student he married Hirabai Daboo.

Business Life

Jamsetji worked in his father’s company until he was 29. He founded a trading company in 1868 with a $52,000,000 or 21,000 rupees. He bought a bankrupt oil mill later in 1869 and converted it into a cotton mill, which he named Alexandra Mill. 2 years later, in 1871 he sold it for profit. Later, in 1874 Jamsetji floated the Central India Spinning, Weaving, and Manufacturing Company in Nagpur Maharashtra. He did this because it seemed like a suitable place for home to establish another business venture. Sadly for Tata this location was inaccessible and was difficult to get to for other entrepreneurs and businessmen.

Family Life

Tata married Hirabai Daboo in 1853. Their sons, Dorabji Tata and Ratanji Tata, succeeded Tata as the chairman of the Tata Group.Tata's cousin, Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata, played an important role in the establishment of Tata Group. His sister helped Jamsetji in his career. She who Tata employed. to successfully prospect for coal and iron ore in Odisha and Bihar. She later settled in England, initially to manage Tata's Manchester office, and later became a Communist Member of the British Parliament.

Tata’s Dream

Tata’s vision was to establish an iron and steel plant, a world class hotel, a learning institution and a hydroelectric power project. Among his four wishes, only the second was fulfilled during Jamsetji Tata's lifetime when the Taj Mahal Hotel was established on December 3, 1903. In 1901, Jamsetji Tata traveled to Europe and America to educate himself on the making of steel. In addition, he made it a point to educate himself on the latest technological progress that had taken place over the years all around the world so that he may use it for the betterment of the industries under Tata & Sons.

Late Life

Sadly at the age of 65, Jamsetji Tata could not stay alive to realize his dream of establishing an iron and steel plant in India. Jamsetji Tata breathed his last on May 19, 1904. He was the sole inspiration behind a group that today is one of the biggest industries of not only India but of the world also. As a pioneer of his field, the vision and aim of Jamsetji Tata came to life with time as his family gave wings to each of his dream projects. In fact, such was his contribution that the city of Jamshedpur in Jharkhand is popular today, because of the many facilities that the group has endowed the city with. Today, the group boasts of being the founder of projects like Tata Steel, the Indian Institute of Science, the Tata Power Company Limited, the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and many more.

Timeline

1839: Jamsetji Tata was born on March 3.

1853: He married Hirabai Daboo.

1858: Joined his father's trade firm.

1868: Established his first independent company.

1874: Set up the Empress Mill.

1901: Traveled to Europe and America to receive education.

1903: Established the Taj Mahal Hotel.

1904: Died on May 19.