The Architect of Jamshedpur Fondly Remembered

Tata Steel pays tribute to Sir Dorabji Tata on his 150th birth anniversary

Tata Steel paid a tribute to Sir Dorabji Tata on the event of 150th birth anniversary today. Mr B Muthuraman, Managing Director, Mr H M Nerurkar, Executive Director, (India & South East Asia) and Mr Raghunath Pandey, President, Tata Workers’ Union, offered flowers at his statue in the park named in honour, Sir Dorabji Tata Park.

Reiterating Dorabji’s priceless contribution, Mr Muthuraman said, “Sir Dorabji was not only a visionary, he also put to action all plans for the city of Jamshedpur as well the Steel Works in the city. His unstinted support to the company as its first chairman helped it sail through the roughest of times. Besides shaping the future of the Tata empire, he also played a remarkable role in promoting sportspersons and education in India. Tata Steel and Jamshedpur shall always be indebted to this legendary man.” This was also, in essence, stressed upon by Mr Raghunath Pandey at the gathering. Also present on the occasion were other senior officials of Tata Steel and JUSCO.

Dorabji Tata had always been the motivating force behind every member of his team. Following the footsteps of his father, Jamsetji Tata, Sir Dorabji Tata gave shape to his father’s dream and took the Tata Enterprise to the peak from where it shone bright like a sparkling jewel. His optimism and keenness were the qualities that led him to the pinnacle of success. Under the leadership of Dorabji Tata, the Tata Group experienced immense expansion. From just three cotton mills and the Taj Hotel Bombay, the firm spread its wings rapidly and soon grew to become the largest private sector steel company. To name a few additions that were made under his management includes an integrated steel plant, three hydroelectric power companies, a large edible oil and soap company, two cement companies and also the aviation unit pioneered by JRD Tata. Dorabji also saw the establishment of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, which became the pioneer scientific research centre in India.

Dorabji had an enduring love for sports. He took measures to enhance the athletic talent in India and also initiated to introduce the nation to the ‘Olympic movement’. Holding the position of the President of the Indian Olympic Association, he financed the Indian contingent to the Paris Olympiad in 1924. He also became a member of International Olympic Committee. Dorabji Tata established the ‘Lady Tata Memorial Trust’ in fond memory of his wife Meherbai Tata who died of leukemia in 1931. The trust was established in order to advance the study into various diseases related to blood. In 1932, he established a trust fund, which was to be used for the advancement of research, for disaster relief and other humanitarian purposes. This trust came to be known as the ‘Sir Dorabji Tata Trust’. It is believed that Sir Dorabji had invested all his assets and wealth into this trust.

Notable amongst his other deeds is the sizeable donation he gave in the field of education. He donated a considerable amount of money to the University of Cambridge for setting up laboratory equipments in the School of Engineering and also for the establishment of a Chair for Sanskrit studies at the ‘Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute’, Pune. Dorabji is also known to have presented many of his paintings and artwork to the Prince of Wales Museum in Bombay. The legend, Sir Dorabji Tata, who is known for his immense contribution to the progress and well being of the Tata Empire, breathed his last in Bad Kissingen, Germany on 3rd June 1932.