If there is a memory lane, the best person to ask directions to it at the moment would be Simone Tata. Despite the jostling crowds around her at the Tata Central Archives (TCA) in Pune, she was held spellbound by the Tata artefacts, photographs and memorabilia on display, stopping the longest at an exhibit of her wedding invitation card to ask: "How on earth did you manage to get that?"

'Images of Greatness', an exhibition organised by the TCA on the lives and work of the three 'greats' Jamsetji N, JRD and Naval Tata-transported Simone, the female visionary of India's pioneering industrial family, into a sepia-toned world of lost loved ones. The exhibition is the fourth of the series to be held in Pune. It is divided into different sections, including the Tata family, phases of Jamsetji's life, the three textile mills, Esplanade House, the Indian Institute of Science, Tisco, the Taj Mahal Hotel, Tata Electric Companies and the last days of Jamsetji.

Stopping at each exhibit, Tata seemed reluctant to allow anyone to interrupt her. As to what the exhibition meant to her, she shook her silver mane and dismissed the query: "I've seen most of these exhibits before, but it feels wonderful to see them all over again." In fact, her momentary disconnect with the present began during her inaugural address, prior to throwing the exhibition open to the public.

"I still remember that meeting at Bombay House in 1991, when the concept of a family archive was born," she said in her French-accented English, while announcing that a book and a film on the Tatas would be released in January. But once the ribbon was cut, her ears were only for TCA archivist H Raghunath and assistant archivist Freny Shroff, who accompanied he through the exhibition, interjecting with necessary information.

Among the photographs, Tata was captivated by a 1901 snap of her husband Naval with his father at the Empress Mills. On the first floor, she paused to give full marks to TCAs recreation o JRD's office, taking note of the old phone on the desk, and admire a portrait of JRD's wife. The exhibition commemorate; the death centenary of Jamsetji Tata founder of the House of Tatas, and the birth centenaries of JRD am Naval Tata.