Dreamer, entrepreneur, visionary
The Free Press Journal — March 20, 2005

One of the most intriguing aspects of the publishing world in India is that there are so few books written about one of the most glamorous of Indian industrialists Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata, known to many as plain JRD and to the few who were close to him as "Jeh'. One doesn't compare him with Mahatma Gandhi on whom there are shelves full of books. One doesn't compare him even with Jawaharlal Nehru who, again, has been the subject of much study and analysis.

It is not that JRD was an aloof personality who kept people away. As an individual he was friendly, and cooperative, though somewhat shy. But he was the head of a vast industrial empire and had built for himself a reputation in many fields of human activity with so much going for him. It is no exaggeration to say that he was — and even after more than a decade after his passing away still remains — one of the most adored of men and referred to in words bordering on awe mixed with affection.

There is no easy explanation. The first authoritative biography of him written by Russi Lala who was close enough to him to be invited home and received in JRD's sparse bedroom is entitled Beyond The Last Blue Mountain and is in a class by itself. Now Bakhtiar Dadabhoy has produced another biography and a beautifully illustrated one at that worthy of the subject. Bakhfiar wisely acknowledges his debt to Russi Lala, Lala, JRD's official biographer; no doubt he has borrowed much information from Lala's work, but that in no way lessens its relevance or readability.

Indeed it would be difficult to put down the book if once it is picked up for reading. Anecdotes crowd page after page of delightful writing as the author traces the life of JRD from his birth on 29 July 1904 in a spacious house in Paris close to the Opera to his passing away in a Swiss Hospital 89 years later in a fitting tribute to one of India's greatest sons. This is not, repeat not, hagiography. Neither is Russi Lalas original work. JRD himself would have been aghast if a bookfull of praise was heaped on him.

He was intensely human and understood human frailty. He had his moments of anger and of despair. He could occasionally be acerbic. Dadabhoy in describing JRD's relationship with his two brothers says that because JRD expected nothing short of perfection from his younger brother he would "seem rather too critical at times". One brother, Jimmy, took this in his stride, but says Dadabhoy, Darab "who was slightly unstable to begin with, took this badly".

JRD was too much of an idealist. During the war years, TISCO's capacity stagnated at 800,000 tons. JRD told the share-holders that TISCO had, provided approximately three million tons of steel to the war effort. Unbelievable! It should have been a time for supernormal profits for Tatas, but, the auditor tells us, "JRD's code of ethics did not allow him to profiteer." While other companies made supernormal profits, Tatas supplied steel to the British government in India at pre-war prices.

It was not that JRD was sold out on the British. JRD was friendly with the nationalists and held Gandhi in high respect. Jawaharlal Nehru was a friend. When JRD was offered a knighthood - it was such an attractive proposition - he declined it. JRD was not interested and said as much. He once described his attitude towards the Raj in frank terms. He said: "I always had an angry opposition to their continuing as rulers and was always hoping that we could break away or they would get away".

It is difficult to imagine what India would have looked like if the Tatas — and JRD specifically — did not exist. JRD was a firm believer in the concept of Trusteeship and social responsibility. Jamsetji Tata, the founder had always placed the needs of the nation above narrow commercial concerns and JRD followed the founders philosophy with unfailing dedication. One has only to think of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, the National Centre for The Performing Arts, not to speak of Air India and the expansion itself of the Tata business empire to stand in awe of a man who had done so much for his country.

He was a pioneer in many ways. He was the first to obtain a pilots license. His sportsmanship, in helping a competitor in an aerial race is the kind of stuff that legend is made of. He was a man of convictions and even dared to support the Swatantra Party when it was established, incurring Nehru's displeasure. One of his favourite concepts was family planning in which he took an active interest. Indeed he should be considered a pioneer in the spread of the family planning movement in India, a status which was in later years fully recognised by the United Nations.

And this was at a time when the Government of India was lukewarm towards the entire idea. In that sense JRD was a prophet who could look into the future and prepare for it in the present. Though JRD never took active part in politics he took an active interest in it. There was a time when he felt that a presidential form of government was more suited to India, taking a cue from what happened in France where chronic political instability compelled General de Gaulle to introduce a new form of government.

But while his interests took in a wide variety of subjects, one suspects that till the end he remained an air pilot who took to the skies like a bird in the air. The biggest tribute JRD received was from Air India when he passed away. A giant boarding said: "He touched the sky and it smiled; He stretched out his arms and they encircled the globe. His vision made giants out of men and organisations". And no truer words were said. Dadabhoy does not fight shy of writing about JRD's personal life and of his relationships with those close to him.

One of his saddest days in his life was when he was removed from Air India without so much as a by-your-leave. But honour came to him thick and fasts - unasked. To the end JRD remained what he was: a concerned man who concerns went beyond his dreams. It is a book to treasure because it brings alive a century of effort in the making of a nation in which JRD took such a prominent part. But to think that he never went to college, never had an opportunity- to graduate and get a degree - one of his greatest personal regrets - and yet managed to run an industrial empire profitably and efficiently makes for an exciting story.

One suspects that JRD would have appreciated it. He had too good a sense of humour to not laugh at an occasional effort of the author to have a dig at him.