J. R. D. Tata

Infobox_Celebrity
name = Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata

|150px
birth_date = birth date|1904|7|29|mf=y
birth_place = Paris, France
death_date = death date and age|1993|11|29|1904|7|29|mf=y
death_place = Geneva, Switzerland
occupation = Industrialist
spouse= Thelma Vicaji
salary =
networth =

Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata (July 29, 1904–November 29, 1993) was a pioneer aviator and important businessman of India. He was awarded Bharat Ratna during his life time [A report in Vohuman.org cite web |title=Vohuman|url=http://www.vohuman.org/Article/JRD%20Tata%20--%20On%20the%20Islands%20of%20Tata,%20In%20the%20Ocean%20of%20India.htm |author = Amalsad, Meher Dadabhoy | accessdate=2007-04-11] .

Early life

J.R.D. Tata was born in Paris, France, the second child of Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata and his French wife Suzanne BrièreFact|date=April 2008. His father was a first cousin of Jamsetji Tata, a pioneer industrialist in India. 'Jeh', or 'JRD' as he was commonly known, came to be regarded as the most famous industrial pioneer in modern India. As his mother was French, he spent much of his childhood in France and as a result, French was his first language. Tata also attended the French Foreign Legion. He attended the Cathedral and John Connon School, Bombay (now Mumbai).

J.R.D. Tata was inspired early by aviation pioneer Louis Blériot, and took to flying. In 1929 Tata got the first pilot licence issued in India. He later came to be known as the father of Indian civil aviation. He founded India's first commercial airline, 'Tata Airlines', in 1932, which in 1946 became Air India, now India's national airline.

Businessman

J.R.D. Tata studied engineering at the University of Cambridge. He did not continue beyond matriculation as mentioned in his biography, by Mr R M Lala.

At the age of 34, he bacame Chairman of Tata Sons, the holding Comapany of the Tata Group.For decades, J R D directed the huge Tata Group of companies, with major interests in Steel, Engineering, Power,Chemicals and Hospitality. He was famous for succeeding in business while maintaining high ethical standards - refusing to bribe politicians or use the black market. Under J R D's Chairmanship, the number of Companies in the Tata Group, grew from 15 to over 100. Monetarily, the assests of Tata group grew from Rs 62 crores to over Rs 10000 crores.

He was awarded the Legion d'honneur, by the French Government in 1954.He also received the prestigious, Guggenheim Medal for aviation in 1988.He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award in 1992 for his service to industry and nation building. He died in Geneva, Switzerland in 1993 at age of 89. He is buried at Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.

References

* citation|last=Lala|first=R. M.|title=Beyond the Last Blue Mountain: the Authorised Biography of J.R.D. Tata|publisher=Viking|year=1992|isbn=0670844306
* citation|editor-last=Mambro|editor-first=Arvind|title=J.R.D. Tata Letters|publisher=Rupa|year=2004|isbn=8129105136
* [http://www.newindiadigest.com/lala.htm Biography at newindiadigest.com]
* [http://www.tata.com/0_about_us/history/pioneers/appro_jrd.htm Biography at tata.com]
* [http://www.jrdshah.com/ J R D Shah & Co.]
* [http://www.jrdshah.org/ J R D Shah Philanthrophy Advisors]