Page 5 - JRD TATA

country’s largest industrial empire. He September 1992. He also firmly believed
was appointed Chairman on July 26, that the rapid spread of literacy and
1938 and he remained the Chairman till education, particularly among women
March 25, 1991, when he relinquished it and children, would help in raising the
to Mr. Ratan N. Tata. standard of living of the people of India.

J.R.D.’s joy of achievement extended
beyond the ambit of business to
institutions he helped create. Significant
among them was the Tata Institute of
Fundamental Research and his support
for the creation of the National Centre for
the Performing Arts. In addition to these
FROM THE
two was the part he played in the setting
up of the National Institute of Advanced
Studies in Bangalore (now Bengaluru).
J.R.D. Tata with Ratan N. Tata, circa 1991. J.R.D. also had a decisive role in the
planning stage of India’s first cancer
When J.R.D. took over the Chairmanship hospital – the Tata Memorial Hospital for
of Tata Sons Limited, the Group had 14 Cancer Research and Treatment (now
COLLECTION
companies. Under his stewardship the Tata Memorial Hospital).
Group expanded to cover a range of
industrial activities, such as commercial
vehicles, engineering, hotels, air-
conditioning & refrigeration, consultancy
services, information technology,
consumer goods, consumer durables
Mr. Tata had over the years crusaded for THE
OF
and industrial products.
causes, which he believed to be in the
national interest, such as family planning
and population control. His contribution The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research,
in the sphere of population control 1945.
TATA CENTRAL ARCHIVES
received due recognition when he was
At the age of 40, J.R.D. set up a multi-
given the UN Population Award in
purpose trust, the J.R.D. Tata Trust, by
donating many of his prized shares of
Tata Sons Limited and other companies.
Among his other concerns, was the
condition of disadvantaged women in
India and established a Trust of his own
called the J.R.D. and Thelma J. Tata Trust
to improve their lot.
The friendship of Jawaharlal Nehru and
J.R.D. went back to a time when
The Tata Engineering and Locomotive Co. Ltd. Jawaharlal Nehru was a dashing 36 and
(now Tata Motors).