At five years, Jehangir, the son of industrialist Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata, was captivated by airplanes.
Today marks the 120th birth anniversary of Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata, popularly known as JRD Tata and the Father of Indian Civil Aviation. JRD Tata's passion for flying and his pioneering efforts in aviation left a lasting legacy. Even after the government took control of Air India, JRD remained its chairman, underscoring his dedication to the airline he founded.
At five years old, Jehangir, the son of industrialist Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata, was captivated by airplanes. During summer vacations in Northern France, he eagerly watched Adolph Pegoud, the chief pilot of Louis Bleriot—the first man to fly across the English Channel in 1909—land planes on the beach.
By the age of 15, JRD Tata was determined to become a pilot and pursue a career in aviation. However, it wasn't until nine years later, when a flying club opened in Bombay, that he could chase his dream. At 24, he rushed to obtain his flying license. Though many registered before him, JRD was the first to pass the flying test. On February 10, 1929, he received his commercial aviator's certificate, proudly bearing the 'No. 1' tag.
That same year, JRD Tata set out to revolutionise India's aviation sector by establishing the country's first airline, Tata Air Service, which later became Air India. Utilising his aviator license, JRD piloted Air India's inaugural flight on October 15, 1932, marking the beginning of a new era in Indian civil aviation.
During his tenure at the Tata Group, JRD Tata initiated 14 new companies, including successful ventures like TCS, Tata Motors, Tata Salt, Tata Global Beverages, and Titan. In 1956, JRD established the Tata Administrative Service (TAS), modelled after the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), with the aim of training young talents within the Tata Group for leadership roles.
JRD Tata made numerous contributions to the welfare of his employees and their families. He was the first to introduce the concept of an 8-hour workday and pioneered free medical services and a provident fund scheme for employees. He also initiated compensation for workers in the event of an accident.
JRD Tata played a significant role in the field of education. In 1936, he founded the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). This was followed by the establishment of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in 1945, and the National Centre for the Performing Arts. Recognizing the potential of computers half a century ago, he founded Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) as the Tata Computer Centre in 1968. Today, TCS is India's largest IT company and the second-largest in market capitalization after Reliance. In 1987, he founded Titan.
JRD Tata passed away on November 29, 1993, in a hospital in Geneva. To date, he is the only industrialist to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor, which he received in 1992.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "JRD Tata")
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}