Tata Steel celebrates Sir Dorabji Tata’s 161st Birth Anniversary

Tata Steel, today, joined millions across India to celebrate the 161st Birth Anniversary of Sir Dorabji Tata, the second and the second-longest serving Chairman of the $113 billion Tata Group. Among the many notable achievements of Sir Dorabji is his hands-on involvement in laying the foundations for Tata Steel, a Company that has today grown to become one of the largest steel producers not just in India but world-over. Tata Steel, today, paid digital homage to Sir Dorabji Tata on his 161th Birth Anniversary.

Chief Guest, T. V. Narendran, CEO & MD, Tata Steel, and the Guest of Honour, R Ravi Prasad, President, Tata Workers’ Union along with the special guest Dr J J Irani, Former Managing Director of Tata Steel, paid homage to the legend today morning on the digital platform. The virtual homage ceremony was attended by all employees of Tata Steel.

In his message, T. V. Narendran, CEO & MD, Tata Steel, said: “The life of leaders like Sir Dorabji Tata assumes greater importance, particularly during the challenging times that we all live in now. Whenever we are faced with challenges as leaders we have to look back at his tenure as Chairman and take inspiration from his learnings of leading a company through a world war, a plague pandemic during a time when he did not have access to the technologies and infrastructure we have today. The sacrifices of our predecessors are a reminder with a message that we will always come out stronger and overcome challenges.”

R Ravi Prasad, President, Tata Workers’ Union, said: “Sir Dorabji undertook the most challenging task of building a steel plant over a 100 years ago when technology, infrastructure was only developing. We are thankful for his visionary spirit and the legacy he has left behind for generations to come. We will always be indebted to his vision and thankful for creating a beautiful city which has all the facilities like schools and hospitals and are proving to be a boon today. I wish to continue to serve and work together along with all the Tata Steel employees to make Sir Dorabji Tata proud.”

Dr. J J Irani, Former Managing Director of Tata Steel, said: "I have always looked upon Sir Dorabji Tata as the implementer, as he had the courage to bring to life the dreams of his father. Jamsetji Tata, the visionary he was, passed on the plans, he envisioned, to his son Sir Dorabji Tata through his letters. Without the efforts and commitment of Sir Dorabji, the city of Jamshedpur and the Tata Steel plant would have never become a reality. We owe our greatest gratitude to Sir Dorabji for infusing life into his father’s dreams. In the last 100 plus years the city has evolved but his work still stands tall through the parks, centres and city monuments."

The celebration of the life of a patriot and nationalist like Sir Dorabji also comes at a time when India is embarking on a national mission to become self-reliant in all walks of life under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan. The work of Sir Dorabji during the early years of the previous century including Tata Steel, Tata Power, and the setting up of the Indian Institute of Science continues to remain the foundation stones of India.

To mark the occasion, various online programmes are being organised from August 25 onwards to ensure maximum participation from employees during these unprecedented times of COVID-19. The online programme “#A Moment to Remember” gave platform to participants to share best moments of two cricket legends of India, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Suresh Raina. “Imaging Tomorrow”, a painting competition for children of Tata Steel Kalinganagar executives and a quiz competition titled “Eye on the Ball” were also organised to mark the occasion.  A webinar titled “Meet the Stalwarts of Cricket” was organised to celebrate Sir Dorabji’s contribution in the field of sports. On the occasion, Tata Literature Live launched an exciting new live digital series ‘Tata Literature Live! Sports Yatras’ to bring in eminent sports personalities to share their inspiring success stories and give us a glimpse of their journey to achieve their dreams.

Sir Dorabji Tata was the first Chairman of Tata Steel, who infused the Company with standards in corporate governance that were way ahead of its time. A keen sportsman from his early years, Sir Dorabji Tata was the first President of the Indian Olympic Association and was instrumental in steering India’s entry into the Olympics. On this auspicious day, the Nation remembers him with respect and reverence for his contribution to industry and sports.

Sir Dorabji Tata was acutely aware that every tonne of steel that is made in the company is the hard work of thousands from the mills, collieries, mines, stockyards and offices of Tata Steel. Keeping these in mind, he introduced first-ever initiatives like 8-hour day, maternity leave, provident fund, accident compensation, free medical aid and many more welfare measures, long before they became legal obligations. Thanks to him, Tata Steel remains the industry benchmark of a company whose heart beats for its people.

The legacy of this great visionary will continue to inspire generations of businessmen and entrepreneurs in the future. Tata Steel salutes the courage and conviction of this pioneer and will continue to work towards building a stronger and self-reliant India.

Know more: https://www.tatasteel.com/corporate/our-organisation/campaigns/dorabji-tata-birth-anniversary/

About Tata Steel

Tata Steel group is among the top global steel companies with an annual crude steel capacity of 34 million tonnes per annum. It is one of the world's most geographically-diversified steel producers, with operations and commercial presence across the world. The group (excluding SEA operations) recorded a consolidated turnover of US $19.7 billion in the financial year ending March 31, 2020.

A Great Place to Work-Certified^TM organisation, Tata Steel Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, is spread across five continents with an employee base of over 65,000.

Tata Steel was recognised as DJSI steel sector leader in 2018 and has ranked fourth in the steel sector in 2019. Besides being a member of the worldsteel’s Climate Action Programme, Tata Steel has won several awards and recognitions including the World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse recognition for its Kalinganagar Plant - a first in India, and Prime Minister’s Trophy for the best performing integrated steel plant for 2016-17. The Company, ranked as India’s most valuable Metals & Mining brand by Brand Finance, received the ‘Honourable Mention’ at the National CSR Awards 2019, Steel Sustainability Champion 2019 by worldsteel, CII Greenco Star Performer Award 2019, ‘Most Ethical Company’ award 2020 from Ethisphere Institute, and Best Risk Management Framework & Systems Award (2020) by CNBC TV-18, among several others.

To know more, visit www.tatasteel.com and www.wealsomaketomorrow.com.

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Disclaimer:

Statements in this press release describing the Company’s performance may be “forward looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws and regulations. Actual results may differ materially from those directly or indirectly expressed, inferred or implied. Important factors that could make a difference to the Company’s operations include, among others, economic conditions affecting demand/ supply and price conditions in the domestic and overseas markets in which the Company operates, changes in or due to the environment, Government regulations, laws, statutes, judicial pronouncements and/ or other incidental factors.

Kulvin Suri

Chief, Corporate Communications-India & SEA

Tata Steel

E-mail: kulvinsuri@tatasteel.com