To commemorate his valuable contributions to the Indian Iron & Steel Industry, Tata Steel celebrated the 150th birth anniversary of Mr Pramatha Nath Bose in the city today. On this occasion Mr B Muthuraman, Managing Director, Mr T Mukherjee, Dy. Managing Director (Steel), Tata Steel along with many senior executives of the Company paid homage to the legendary personality at his bust near Armoury Ground Club, C - Road, Northern Town, Jamshedpur.

Later in the day, the Geological Services of Tata Steel had organised a day-long workshop at TMDC Auditorium, where experts from industry and academia in iron ore delivered talks on valuable contributions of P.N. Bose followed by a panel discussion on “Sustainable Development of Indian Iron Ore Resources – Challenges & Solutions”. The workshop was inaugurated by Mr T Mukherjee Dy Managing Director (Steel), Tata Steel. Mr P V Rao conducted the inaugural session and also proposed the vote of thanks.

While refreshing the memory about Mr Bose, Dr Mukherjee said it was Mr Bose who paved the way for the Indian Iron and Steel Industry. He also spoke about the several firsts, which Mr Bose went on to create. Mr Bose was the first Indian graduate in science from a British University, first to discover petroleum in Assam, first to set up a soap factory in India and also the first to introduce micro sections as an aid to petrological work. Dr Mukherjee informed that Mr Bose was the first Indian to hold a graded position in the Geological Survey of India where he served with distinction. Mr Bose was very much involved in the Swadeshi movement. He had constantly taken up the cause of technical education in the country. His resolute pursuit of the issue resulted in the first All- India Industrial Conference in 1905, which was followed up in 1906 by the second conference. This also resulted in formation of the Indian Industrial Association. His efforts also catalyzed the foundation of the Bengal Technical Institute which is better known as the Jadavpur University today. Mr Bose was the first honorary principal of this institute added Dr Mukherjee

A staunch supporter of industrialization in India, Mr Bose wrote extensively about the steady depletion of our raw materials to fuel industrial growth in the West. He specially referred to the output of mineral resources and industrial ventures of the country for ten years – 1894 – 1903 and showed that the production of manganese ore increased 15 times, petroleum more than 7 fold, mica nearly quadrupled, gold trebled coal more than doubled. Mr Pramatha Nath estimated that not even a fiftieth part of the capital of the joint stock companies engaged in mining was contributed by the countrymen. No wonder all the material was being shipped abroad informed Dr Mukherjee.

Further talking on the occasion Dr Mukherjee said Tata Steel would always owe to this luminary for the historic letter he wrote to Mr J N Tata on February 24, 1904, which changed the course of industrialization in the country and wished that we had many more PN Boses in India in all fields, be it science, be it culture, politics or education.