The Tata Group – From Torchbearers to trailblazers brings to life the heritage of the 150 plus old Group which has 100 companies under its wings. The Tata group is part of Indian heritage and has impact generations of so many Indian lives
Jamsetji, the founder of Tata group is referred to as “Father of Indian Industry” and seems to great respect and unrivaled position in history of Indian business.Starting from setting up of empress mill in 1869, to setting of core Industries such as tata steel at times when people did not venture. He was pioneer, always ahead in his thinking, understood what India, and its people would need to grow post the independence.
Tata group is a firm that was established in Indian soil with Indian blood and with the hard earned money of Indian. He laid down strong foundation for the group and based on values which are relevant even today. When Indian and India as country was fighting for freedom from British rule and colonization, he envisioned what the nation would require to run post Independence.
We all know that Air India was nationalized by the government after the Independence, but New India Insurance which was also started by the Tata group to was nationalized. I didn’t know that New India Insurance was initially started by Tatas.
As a group, they believed in standing for what they believed in , never believed in bribing to get any approvals from the government even when their competitors were doing so. There have been several occasions, under both the Nehru and Indira Gandhi rule, they has to wait to few years to get permission despite their reputation, trust and contribution to the India and its growth.
Another fun fact, they did divest few firms which I didn’t know was once under their umbrella. To names them, few of them were Lakme to HUL, ACC(cement) to Gujarat Ambuja Cement, Merind(Pharma) to Wockhardt, and Goodlass Nerolac(Paints) to Kansai Paint Company.
Certain amount of profits from Individual companies under the Tata Umbrella, goes to Tata Trusts and they are used for funding various NGO companies. Infact a good portion of the money goes to giving back to community. Instead of being profit oriented, or personal profit, the Tata believed in giving back to the community. Given their global presence, they collaborate with the various organisation in India and other countries, to do something for the betterment of people and for various social causes. If they have been profit oriented and adding money to their own pockets, they would be richest group.
At the same time, giving back something to the society that has impact on million of lives, help gain trust and thus earn them economic values. They even work for the communities surrounding their factory or tea plantation and those working for them. The employees were taken care, from both the financial aspects and They were given various employee benefit even before the government mandated few policies for the employees.
The first thing we look at is what is right for the nation and larger economy, the we look at what is right for the group, and what is right for the company and business. That is how the entire thought-process works in the Tata group and that is how this group has been for over a century – Veeramani Shankar
The Tata group believed in having human touch with their shareholders. JRD was referred to known as “Benign Baron” and preferred to have relationship with stakeholders on normative, moral commitments rather than as those who are responsible for profit. He liked to have human touch in his relationship with stakeholders rather than seeing them only in terms of profit and business. This approach did earn them reputation and trust, thus providing the firm the required economic benefits. The group gave immense importance to ethics and values
There were many instances and incidences in the book which played an integral part in the growth of various companies under the Tata group. They help understand how they have survived 150 years, stood test of time, overcome cyclical changes in business, liberalization, mastermind behind the global expansion.
This is a book worth reading and must-read to understand the essence and the heritage of The Tata group
the_book_smugglers 