JRD Tata – Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata a pioneer aviator – India’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna Awardee

JRD Tata (Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata) who was a pioneer aviator birth anniversary is today on July 29. JRD Tata (Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata) was awarded as India’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna in 1992 for his service to industry and nation building. In the same year, he was also bestowed with the United Nations Population Award for his crusading endeavors towards initiating and successfully implementing the family planning movement in India. JRD Tata (Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata) was awarded the Legion d’honneur, by the French Government in 1954. In 1979, Tata was the recipient of the Tony Jannus Award for his distinguished contributions to commercial aviation. He also received the prestigious Guggenheim Medal for aviation in 1988.

JRD Tata  had the honor of being India’s first pilot, was Chairman of Tata & Sons for 50 years who launched Air India International as India’s first international airline and received Bharat Ratna in 1992.

JRD Tata (JehangirRatanjiDadabhoy Tata)Early life and education:

J.R.D. Tata was born in Paris, France, the second child of Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata and his French wife, Suzanne “Sooni” Briere. His father was a first cousin of Jamsedji 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.

He did not continue beyond matriculation as mentioned in his biography ‘Beyond The Blue Mountains’ by Mr R M Lala.

Biography J.R.D. Tata was inspired early by aviation pioneer Louis Bleriot, and took to flying. In 1929 Tata obtained 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.

At the age of 34, he became Chairman of Tata Sons, the holding Company 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. Assets of Tata group grew from Rs 620 Million to over Rs 100 Billion.

JRD Tata was one of the most enterprising Indian entrepreneurs. He was a pioneer aviator and built one of the largest industrial houses of India.

JRD Tata received a number of awards. He received the Padma Vibhushan in 1957 on the eve of silver jubilee of Air India. He also received the Guggenheim Medal for aviation in 1988. In 1992, because of his selfless humanitarian endeavors.
JRD Tata died in Geneva, Switzerland on November 29, 1993 at the age of 89. On his death, the Indian Parliament was adjourned in his memory-an honor not usually given to persons who are not Members of Parliament.

JRDTata (Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata) Death:

He died in Geneva, Switzerland in 1993 at the age of 89. He is buried at Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.

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