From priests to captains of industry
Business Standard — May 1, 2005

Horizons is not a book about the House of Tatas nor is it a chronicler of a century in which India gained political and economic freedom. Instead, it's a homage to values. The values that many a tune intertwined the House of Tatas and the country which this tribe of Navsari priests adopted as their homeland - making a transition from preaching Zoroastnanism's selfless virtues to becoming high priests of business. Much like the way of life that's the Tata culture, the book reflects the progress made by a business-house which never looked upon itself as anything but creators of wealth. For an India whose destiny they helped shape in a myriad ways.

And this is when the book takes a giant leap, of both faith and feeling. Aman and Jay could easily have been chroniclers of a splendid business century or for that matter, a trying political period, but it is the parallel they draw by paralleling years of national development alongside that of the House of Tatas as that remains the leitmotif of his wonderful book.

In a foreword 10 Frank Harris' book on Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, the legendary JRD Tata had penned: "the wealth gathered by Jamsetji Tata and his sons in half a century of industrial pioneering formed but a minute fraction of the amount by which they enriched the nation The whole of that wealth is held in trust for the people and used exclusively for their benefit. The cycle is complete: what came from the people has gone back to the people many times over." Nothing testifies more eloquently to JRD's poignant words than the tales in Horizons.

From the little-known meaning of the word Tata (peppery in Ou jaraii owing to the fiery Tata temper) to Indira Gandhi's rather dishonest admission when she thanked JRD for sending her some Lakme perfumes, saying she never used perfume. Tracing the genesis of Netaji's forays as a union leader when he became President of the Jamshedpur labour Association, to the ease with which the book captures the successive reigns of Tata Chairmen, from Sir Dorab to Ratan. An underlying humility being the corner stone of everything they stood for and still believe in.

This is not a book about success in business, nor is it a perfect history of 100 years in India's life. It is much more. It is a reflection of the aspirations of four founders and their heirs, who believed in the idea of India through the eyes of her people. Tata has always stood for trust, and thus been the recipient of unbridled respect. This book establishes another realm of reference: that of timeless relevance. The book is inspirational because in its broad brushstrokes of history rest small Incidents of foresight that became the hallmark of the Tatas.

Prom the place where world-renowned conductors wield their batons (Mumbai's NCPA) to the home of science (the Indian Institute of Science): from where the atomic energy movement began to Jamshedpur, a township which stands for what India can be. It is this sweep of humane vignettes that make the book irresistible. A must-read not only if you are in business or academia, but if you are an Indian needing something to reflect on. At a limn when the national mood is often wanting in pride, the history of the Tatas shows us a way cobbled with vision, foresight, integrity and passion.

Perhaps the critical ingredients for yet another remarkable century. Except this time, hopefully both for India and the Tatas. In a manner of speaking, the book also justifies why the word Tata is no longer a noun, but. indeed, a verb.