JRD Tata launched civil aviation in India in 1932, at a time when flying was a rich man's sport. What started as Tata Aviation Services, a department of Tata Sons, evolved into Tata Air Services, Tata Air Lines (1938) and then Air-India (1946).

Song of the Clouds

At 34 years of age, JRD Tata was the youngest ever Chairman of the Tata group. He would go on to devote over 50 years to leading and shaping the future of the group.

JRD Tata: In Conversation

Under JRD’s Chairmanship, the Tata group took over Okha Salt Works, developing its own technology to manufacture soda ash — an especially challenging feat during WW II. The company went on to produce Tata Salt, and is the third largest soda ash producer globally.

Chemicals with a Capital Sea

The National Radio and Electronics Co Ltd (NELCO) was floated to undertake the manufacture of radio transmitters and receivers. Today, with an installed base of 50,000+ VSATs on its network, Nelco has a pan-India network, and the largest antenna on the subcontinent.

In July 1943, JRD wrote a note on Tata Steel: “...when employing 30,000 human beings, each with a mind of his own, we seem to have assumed that they would look after themselves.” The note resulted in the founding of the first corporate HR department in India.

As WW II drew to a close, JRD Tata saw the opportunity to create an engineering giant. He set up the Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company or TELCO in 1945 (Tata Motors in 2003). Today, Tata Motors is India’s #1 CV player, #1 EV player and #3 PV player.

The Birth of a Giant

Under JRD Tata, Tata Power commissioned a thermal power station of 62.5 MW capacity at Trombay in 1956, paving the way for several thermal units over the decades, including India’s first 500 MW generating unit with multi-fuel burning capability in Trombay in 1984.

In 1962, Tata and the Finlay Group formed Tata-Finlay Limited to manufacture packed tea. Under JRD Tata, the company became Tata Tea in 1983, and later, Tata Global Beverages. Today, Tata Consumer Products is among the top 10 F&B companies in India.

In the early 1960s, before India became acquainted with computers, JRD approved the creation of a common data processing division for group companies. The genesis of TCS can be traced to this. Today, TCS is the second Most Valuable IT Services Brand in the world.

TCS through the years

Following Singapore’s independence, the country invited JRD Tata to set up a precision engineering unit and training institute in the country. It led to the formation of Tata Precision Industries in 1972

Under JRD Tata, IHCL not only opened the gateway to luxury tourism for states like Goa and Rajasthan, but also made its first global foray. In 1979, Taj Pamodzi opened its doors in Lusaka, Zambia.

With constant encouragement from JRD Tata, Titan was established through a joint venture with Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation. Today, the company is a house of beloved brands like Titan Watches, Tanishq, Taneira and Titan Eyeplus.