"It is with a sense of history that I stand here today. This is where the journey of the Tatas started!" enthused Lokesh Shrivastava, chief operating officer of the aerospace unit of Tata Aeronautics Limited (TAL), Nagpur at the inauguration of an exhibition on Tata put up by the Tata Central Archives at the Dr Dadi Bulsara Memorial Hall in Nagpur from November 14-19, 2016. He had just returned from Seattle, home of Boeing, and informed the audience that TAL was established in Nagpur in 2014 to manufacture parts for airplanes. "But this vision of making India a super power started many, many years ago."
Zubin Mistry, vice president of Tata Services, speaking on behalf of Tata Archives, explained, "When the 175th anniversary of Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata (JNT) was celebrated in 2014, we realized that the greatness of this giant among men was not known to the present generation. That is when the idea of a traveling exhibition — relevant mainly to the student community — was envisaged." Don Doongaji, who set up and guided the Tata Archives, also hails from Nagpur.
(Above, l-r): Roney Mistry, Edul and Dilnavaz Bhagwagar with student;
Drs Mehru Dadachanji and Thrity Patel
Jamsetji Tata
"We want our young generation to know what we have learnt from the life of JNT. That one must pursue one’s dreams and convert them into reality through high work and dedication, so as to benefit not just one’s self but also our community and our country," said Dr Mehru Major Dadachanji, managing trustee of the J. N. Tata Girls High School and Junior College, Nagpur.
The fortunes of JNT and Nagpur, especially those of its Parsi community, have been closely linked. Tata established his first business venture, The Central India Spinning and Weaving Company (later named the Empress Mills) in the city in 1874, when he was just 34 years old. It became one of the largest employers of the region and the profits and experience gained there helped establish the Tata Iron and Steel Company and other industries. Among the other facilities JNT established in Nagpur were the J. N. Tata Parsi Girls School, one of the earliest schools for girls, and the Bezonbagh Colony for the Mill’s workers.
The Tata Central Archives, located in Poona, is a division of Tata Services Limited, a repository where records, photographs, manuscripts and memorabilia are well maintained. They help keep alive the history and achievements of the Tata group for future generations and are an important resource for researchers. Present at the exhibition, along with Mistry, were archivists Rajendraprasad Narla, Freny Shroff and Vanessa Fernandes.
The exhibition was visited by many, including groups of school students. The display area was divided into four major sections — Education, Enterprise, Environment and Engagement. JNT, being keenly aware of the importance of education, had set up the J. N. Tata Scholarship for students wanting to pursue higher studies. Enterprise showcased the many industries and institutions started by Tatas. In the Environment section, the group’s commitment to conserving nature was highlighted. Tatas were the first to realize the possibility of producing hydro-electricity in the Western Ghats, to provide power to the metropolis of Bombay.
The film Keepers of the Flame was screened for students, followed by a quiz, the winners of which received attractive prizes. The exhibition remained open to the general public from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.