Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata founded the Tata Group and is a renowned Indian entrepreneur and industrialist. Tata Group of industries is the biggest conglomerate in India encompassing 7 business sectors. The Group operates in more than 80 countries and is known the world over as the best Indian global brand. For his immense contribution to the field of industry, Jamsetji Tata is also fondly called the “Father of Indian Industry.” Here are the 10 interesting facts about Jamsetji Tata that proves him to be a legend.
Ambitious And Strong-Willed Since Young
Born on 3 March 1839, right from his childhood, Jamsetji Tata displayed great ambition and was a strong-willed boy. As a family tradition, he was expected to become a Parsi priest but rebelled so that he can fulfill his ambitions.
2. Joined Family Business After Graduation
He graduated from the Elphinstone College in Mumbai in 1858 and joined the trading firm of his father the same year.
3. Extended Family Business To Europe, United States
It was a tough time for developing a successful export-trading business as the country was still shaking under the aftermath of the 1857 Indian Rebellion. Even then, Jamsetji with his hard work and business-skills managed to extend his family business to Europe, the United States, China, and Japan.
4. Traveled World Over To Acquire Knowledge
Young Jamsetji was a quick learner and open to all new things. He traveled extensively across the globe with the view to expand his family business. As a result, he gained lots of experience and valuable knowledge. Through his experience, he came to the conclusion that Indian companies have the scope to develop and compete with the industries dominated by the Britishers.
5. Founded A New Trading Company
He founded a new trading company in 1868 which later on evolved to become The Tata Group. The very next year he purchased Chinchpokli’s bankrupt mill, renamed it as Alexandra Mill and after two years sold it to earn a profit.
6. Started First Textile Mill In Nagpur
In 1874, Jamsetji Tata set up a cotton mill at Nagpur. He renamed it as “Empress Mill” when Queen Victoria was declared the Empress of India three years later. He was very much interested in the textile business and set up mills at Coorla (Kurla) and Bombay.
7. Fair Labor-Protection Policies
Jamsetji Tata’s enterprises followed fair labor-protection policies and were profitable as well as efficient.
8. Four Goals Of Jamesetji’s Life
Primarily he had eyes set on fulfilling four major goals. These include establishing a world-class learning institution offering science education to Indians, setting up iron and steel company, a hydro-electric plant, and unique hotel. He set up the hydro-electric plant in 1892 and Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai (then Bombay) in 1903.
9. Donated Land To Construct Research Institute- Today’s IISc
In 1898, Jamsetji donated land for constructing a research institute in Bengaluru. He came up with a blueprint for this institute and even consulted many powerful people of that time including Swami Vivekananda and Lord Curzon to fulfill the dream. However, his dream became a reality in the form of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) after he passed away.
10. Sudden Death
There were many dreams of Jamsetji that he could not fulfill in his life as he died suddenly on 19 May 1904 in Germany’s Nauheim. His sons Ratanji Tata and Dorabji Tata took over the Tata Group after his death.
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