Page 3 - JRD TATA

JEHANGIR RATANJI DADABHOY TATA
JEHANGIR RATANJI DADABHOY TATA
(1904 – 1993)
(1904 – 1993)
Jehangir Ratanji to become an Officer and then go to
Dadabhoy Tata Cambridge where a seat was reserved for
(J.R.D.), was the him. But his father called him back to
son of Ratanji India.
Dadabhoy Tata
and his French J.R.D. joined
wife Sooni. His Tatas in 1926.
father Ratanji He received his
Dadabhoy Tata grounding in
(R.D.), was a business from a
J.R.D. Tata, circa 1958. FROM THE
a n d
c o u s i n
methodical ICS
colleague
of
(Retd.) Officer
Jamsetji Tata,
Founder of the c a l l e d J o h n Sooni with her five children,
was given a
Peterson. He 1917.
House of Tata.
R.D. and Sooni had five children, Sylla, small desk in a corner of Peterson’s room
and every single paper going to his desk
COLLECTION
Jehangir, Rodabeh, Darab and Jimmy. was routed through J.R.D. After a few
months with Peterson, R.D. suggested
On July 29, 1904, their second child, a that J.R.D. spend a year in Jamshedpur to
son, was born in Paris. They gave him a understand the working of the steel
Persian name Jehangir “Conqueror of the company. In 1926, after his father’s
World”. death J.R.D. at 22, found himself as the
OF THE
J.R.D. was educated in France, Japan and Head of the family. He inherited his
father’s position as a permanent Director
India. He also attended an English of Tata Sons.
Crammer School in order to improve his
to the Regiment de Spahis. At the end of At the age of 15, J.R.D. was taken on his
English. After school, he joined the
first flight in Nothern France. Ever since
French Army for a year and was assigned
then he was determined to fly a plane. He
TATA CENTRAL ARCHIVES
his training in 1925, he intended to
was the pioneer of civil aviation in India.
He was the first pilot to qualify in India
continue to serve for a further six months
holding Private Licence No. 1 from March
R.D. and Sooni Tata, circa 1903. 1929.
In the 1930’s, a daring Englishman called
Nevill Vintcent came to India and
travelled the country offering joy rides in
a small plane. He suggested to J.R.D. that
they start an airline. That was J.R.D.'s
dream too. John Peterson persuaded Sir
Dorabji Tata, the then Chairman of the
House of Tata, to agree. Thus, Tata Air
Lines was launched as a division of Tata
Sons.