The other day, I was reading something about the Kennedy clan. They are virtually thought of as the princely family of America. So many influential people right from Joseph Kennedy(JFK's father ) to JFK himself, Robert Kennedy, Ted Kennedy and to Maria Shriver. Moreover, it is not the number of people that I am trying to talk about but the amount of influence they weilded over the course of history.
On the same lines, I started thinking about a family in India that could rival the Kennedys in fame, national service and unblemished reputation. I dont know if there is anyone even to compete with the TATAs. The name itself evokes respect. From the stalwart J.N.Tata who went on to pioneer the industrial revolution in India to Sir.J.R.D.Tata who at the helm of the Tata Sons steered the fledgling company to diversify into numerous fields to the current chairman of the board Ratan Tata who with his vision has provided assurance that the Tatas are at the forefront of any kind of industry in the new milleium.
This would have been just another industrial success story like many others. But the Tatas have distinguished themselves by returning to the society and performing that social service which most others chose to neglect.
When J.N.Tata was refused entry into a leading hotel in Bombay in the late 1800s, he decided to build a hotel himself that would rival the pomp and spledour of the British. The result was the Taj Mahal Hotel, Bombay. With his vision, he kick-started the industrial revolition. But the starting of the Tata Inst., (now IISc) with his personal purse was probably his biggest contribution to the society.
J.R.D.Tata, with a flying license with license number #1(he was the first person from India to qualify to fly in 1929) , he flew the first airmail plane, founded the Tata Airlines(which was later nationalized to Air India) and became the chairman of IATA.
And not to be left behind, Ratan Tata has vowed to make the dream of a car in ever Indian home come true. For this, he has bet the entire Tata group that they will come out with a passenger car for just about $1000!!!
Who needs princely families when true princes have been ruling India!
(More later about an Indian family that has done more damage to India than anyone can ever do in dozen lifetimes!)
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