The 19th century was a time of great progress and new opportunities around the world. While John D. Rockefeller was building huge wealth in the United States to serve his country, a humble Parsi family in India was also working towards success. In 1822, a boy named Nusserwanji was born into a priestly family in the small village of Navsari, Gujarat. From a young age, he knew that his future lay beyond his village. With dreams of doing something big, he moved to Bombay to start a business, becoming the first in his family to do so. He had no higher education or business experience, only a strong desire to create his own path. Nusserwanji started with a small cotton trading business, which his son Jamsetji – born in the same year as Rockefeller – turned into a large, successful enterprise. Jamsetji revived failing textile mills, established an iron and steel company, envisioned a top-class institute for higher education, built a world-famous hotel, and became known as the ‘Bhishma Pitamah of Indian Industry.’
Over the years, the Tata Group was skillfully managed by Jamsetji’s sons, Dorabji and Ratanji, followed by the dynamic JRD Tata, and later by the practical and business-minded Ratan Tata. Today, the Tata Group is a massive 110-billion-dollar empire.
The story of the Tatas is not just about their business success; it is also the story of India’s growth. Each generation of the Tata family not only expanded their businesses but also contributed to the country’s development. Many people don’t know that the Tatas built the world’s first hydropower project or that modern labor practices like the eight-hour work shift started at a Tata mill in Nagpur. The Tata family also established institutions like the Tata Cancer Research Centre, the Indian Institute of Science, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, and even started India’s national airline, Air India.
The Tatas have built a legacy of vision, hard work, and service, earning a special place in the hearts of Indian people. Written by experienced journalist Girish Kuber, this book tells the complete Tata story, spanning nearly 200 years, in an inspiring way.