J. R. D. Tata
Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata LH (29 July 1904 – 29 November 1993) was an Indian
industrialist, philanthropist, aviator and chairman of Tata Group.
Born into the Tata Family of India, he was the son of noted businessman Ratanji Dadabhoy
Tata and his wife Suzanne Brière. He is best known for being the founder of several industries
under the Tata Group, including Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Motors, Titan Industries, Tata
Salt, Voltas and Air India. In 1983, he was awarded the French Legion of Honour and in 1955
and 1992, he received two of India's highest civilian awards: the Padma Vibhushan and the
Bharat Ratna. These honours were bestowed on him for his contributions to Indian industry.[1]
Early life
J. R. D. Tata was born on 29 July 1904 to an Indian Parsi family in Paris, France. He was the
second child of businessman Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata and his French wife, Suzanne "Sooni"
Brière.[2] His father was the first cousin of Jamsetji Tata, a pioneer industrialist in India. He had
one elder sister Sylla, a younger sister Rodabeh and two younger brothers Darab and Jamshed
(called Jimmy) Tata. His sister, Sylla, was married to Dinshaw Maneckji Petit, the third baronet
of Petits. His sister's sister-in-law, Rattanbai Petit, was the wife of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who
later became the founder of Pakistan in August 1947. Jinnah and Rattanbai's daughter Dina
Jinnah, was married to Bombay Dyeing chairman Neville Wadia who was the son of Sir Ness
Wadia and Lady Eveylne Clara Powell Wadia. Neville and Dina had two children, Nusli Wadia
and Diana N Wadia. Nusli is the current chairman of the Wadia Group. Nusli married Maureen
Waida and they have two children, Jehangir Wadia and Ness Wadia.
As his mother was French, he spent much of his childhood in France and as a result, French
was his first language. He attended the Janson De Sailly School in Paris.[3] One of the teachers
at that school used to call him L'Egyptien.[4]
He attended the Cathedral and John Connon School, Bombay. Tata was educated in London,
Japan, France and India.[5] When his father joined the Tata company he moved the whole
family to London. During this time, J. R. D.'s mother died at the age of 43 while his father was
in India and his family was in France.
After his mother's death, Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata decided to move his family to India and sent
J. R. D. to England for higher studies in October 1923. He was enrolled in a grammar school,
, and was interested in studying engineering at
Honarary Air Vice Marshal
Cambridge University. However, as a citizen of J. R. D. Tata
France J. R. D. had to enlist in the army for at LH
least a year. In between grammar school and
his time in the army, he spent a brief spell at
home in Bombay. After joining the French
Army he was posted into a regiment of
spahis.[6] Upon discovering Tata could not only
read and write French and English,[7] but could
type as well, a colonel had him assigned as a
secretary in his office. After his time in the
French Army, his father decided to bring him
back to India and he joined the Tata Company.
In 1929, Tata renounced his French citizenship Tata in 1955
and became an Indian citizen. In 1930 Tata
Born 29 July 1904
married Thelma Vicaji, the niece of Jack Vicaji,
Paris, France
a colourful lawyer whom he hired to defend
him on a charge of driving his Bugatti too fast Died 29 November 1993
along Bombay's main promenade, Marine (aged 89)
Drive. Previously he had been engaged to Geneva, Switzerland
Dinbai Mehta, the future mother of The Resting place Père Lachaise
Economist editor Shapur Kharegat. Cemetery
While he was born to a Parsi father, and his Citizenship France (1904–1928)
French mother converted to Zoroastrianism, J. India (1929–1993)
R. D. was agnostic. He found some Parsi
Occupation Industrialist
religious customs like their funeral rites and
Philanthropist
their exclusiveness irksome. He adhered to the
three basic tenets of Zoroastrianism, which Known for Founder of Tata
Consultancy
were good thoughts, good words, and good
Services, Tata
deeds, but he did not profess belief or disbelief
Motors, Titan
in God.[8]
Industries, Voltas
and Air India
Career
Spouse Thelma Tata
When Tata was in tour, he was inspired by his
friend's father, aviation pioneer Louis Blériot,
Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata LH (29 July 1904 – 29 November 1993) was an Indian
industrialist, philanthropist, aviator and chairman of Tata Group.
Born into the Tata Family of India, he was the son of noted businessman Ratanji Dadabhoy
Tata and his wife Suzanne Brière. He is best known for being the founder of several industries
under the Tata Group, including Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Motors, Titan Industries, Tata
Salt, Voltas and Air India. In 1983, he was awarded the French Legion of Honour and in 1955
and 1992, he received two of India's highest civilian awards: the Padma Vibhushan and the
Bharat Ratna. These honours were bestowed on him for his contributions to Indian industry.[1]
Early life
J. R. D. Tata was born on 29 July 1904 to an Indian Parsi family in Paris, France. He was the
second child of businessman Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata and his French wife, Suzanne "Sooni"
Brière.[2] His father was the first cousin of Jamsetji Tata, a pioneer industrialist in India. He had
one elder sister Sylla, a younger sister Rodabeh and two younger brothers Darab and Jamshed
(called Jimmy) Tata. His sister, Sylla, was married to Dinshaw Maneckji Petit, the third baronet
of Petits. His sister's sister-in-law, Rattanbai Petit, was the wife of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who
later became the founder of Pakistan in August 1947. Jinnah and Rattanbai's daughter Dina
Jinnah, was married to Bombay Dyeing chairman Neville Wadia who was the son of Sir Ness
Wadia and Lady Eveylne Clara Powell Wadia. Neville and Dina had two children, Nusli Wadia
and Diana N Wadia. Nusli is the current chairman of the Wadia Group. Nusli married Maureen
Waida and they have two children, Jehangir Wadia and Ness Wadia.
As his mother was French, he spent much of his childhood in France and as a result, French
was his first language. He attended the Janson De Sailly School in Paris.[3] One of the teachers
at that school used to call him L'Egyptien.[4]
He attended the Cathedral and John Connon School, Bombay. Tata was educated in London,
Japan, France and India.[5] When his father joined the Tata company he moved the whole
family to London. During this time, J. R. D.'s mother died at the age of 43 while his father was
in India and his family was in France.
After his mother's death, Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata decided to move his family to India and sent
J. R. D. to England for higher studies in October 1923. He was enrolled in a grammar school,
, and was interested in studying engineering at
Honarary Air Vice Marshal
Cambridge University. However, as a citizen of J. R. D. Tata
France J. R. D. had to enlist in the army for at LH
least a year. In between grammar school and
his time in the army, he spent a brief spell at
home in Bombay. After joining the French
Army he was posted into a regiment of
spahis.[6] Upon discovering Tata could not only
read and write French and English,[7] but could
type as well, a colonel had him assigned as a
secretary in his office. After his time in the
French Army, his father decided to bring him
back to India and he joined the Tata Company.
In 1929, Tata renounced his French citizenship Tata in 1955
and became an Indian citizen. In 1930 Tata
Born 29 July 1904
married Thelma Vicaji, the niece of Jack Vicaji,
Paris, France
a colourful lawyer whom he hired to defend
him on a charge of driving his Bugatti too fast Died 29 November 1993
along Bombay's main promenade, Marine (aged 89)
Drive. Previously he had been engaged to Geneva, Switzerland
Dinbai Mehta, the future mother of The Resting place Père Lachaise
Economist editor Shapur Kharegat. Cemetery
While he was born to a Parsi father, and his Citizenship France (1904–1928)
French mother converted to Zoroastrianism, J. India (1929–1993)
R. D. was agnostic. He found some Parsi
Occupation Industrialist
religious customs like their funeral rites and
Philanthropist
their exclusiveness irksome. He adhered to the
three basic tenets of Zoroastrianism, which Known for Founder of Tata
Consultancy
were good thoughts, good words, and good
Services, Tata
deeds, but he did not profess belief or disbelief
Motors, Titan
in God.[8]
Industries, Voltas
and Air India
Career
Spouse Thelma Tata
When Tata was in tour, he was inspired by his
friend's father, aviation pioneer Louis Blériot,
