Tata Group is India's largest conglomerate, with products and services in over 150 countries, and operations in 100 countries across six continents. It has a market value of Rs 24 lakh crore. The Tata Group was created by Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata in 1868 and has been led by members of the Tata family for decades.
In 1925, Tata Sons got its first female Director Navajbai Sett, who took the helm of the company after the demise of her husband, Ratanji Tata, and led it till she passed away in 1965.
Ratanji Tata, who was Jamsetji Tata's sibling, married Navajbai Sett, the younger daughter of Ardeshir Merwanji Sett, in 1892. They moved to England in 1915 and adopted Naval Tata. She is the paternal grandmother of Ratan Tata.
Ratanji and Navajbai's circle in England comprised elite clans and aristocracy. They were said to be close friends of King George V and Queen Mary.
Navajbai indulged in a lot of philanthropic work during her lifetime and said to have donated homes in charity. Navajbai founded an institute in 1928. The institute is now commonly known as the Sir Ratan Tata Institute (RTI). The institute provides employment for poor women, training them to earn their own living in cookery, hand embroidery, tailoring and laundry divisions.
Lady Navajbai Tata became the Chairperson of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust in 1932.
JRD Tata apparently consulted her on all important developments of the firm and always received sound advice. She used to ensure that the company was acting in line with the principles and ideals set by Jamsetji Tata.
