(2/3)

After the move, I did spend some time with my grandmom. I’d run with my dog, catch up with her car & we’d have long chats. I’m glad I got that time with her before she passed, because right after, I moved to Jamshedpur for an internship at what’s known as Tata Motors now.

It was a waste of time–I was moved from one department to another & was looked at as a family member, so no one told me what to do but I spent 6 months trying to be ‘useful’. It was only after I moved to Tata Steel that I got specific work & my job got interesting. I started from the floor & really understood the plight of those working there. So years later, when we downsized Tata Steel from 78,000 to 40,000, we ensured to pay them their present day wages until retirement it’s been in our DNA to serve those who serve us.
 
By the time I finished 6 years in Jamshedpur, architecture had become a hobby. I enjoyed designing homes for my mom & I, but apart from that, my life was dedicated to the business. In 1991, JRD stepped down as the Chairman of Tata Industries. At first, there was no criticism, but when he stepped down from Tata Sons, there was vicious criticism.

There were other aspirants for the position, who were vocal of him having made the wrong decision. I’d been through this before, so I did what I knew best maintained a dignified silence & focused on proving myself. 
The criticism was personal JRD got clubbed with nepotism & I, as the wrong choice. I was under scrutiny, but the time I spent on the floor served as a big plus!

All in all, it was a big move. I remember after I was appointed Chairman, I walked with JRD to his office, where he told his secretary that he had to move out. I said, ‘No, J, don’t move out, this is your office for as long as you want.’ He said, ‘Where will you sit?’ I said, ‘Where I’m sitting today–I have an office down the hall & that’s fine.’

I was lucky to have him there. He was my greatest mentor & the years that he was alive, I used to go into his office & say, ‘J, I wish this had happened 10 years ago, we have such a great relationship.’ He was like a father & a brother to me & not enough’s been said about that.”
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(3/3)

“Ever since, my life has been for & about growing the company. When I was appointed Chairman, it was believed my surname got me the position, but my focus was on creating something bigger than us all & on giving back, which has been in the TATA DNA since the start.
 
With Jamshedpur for instance, while our workers were thriving, the surrounding villages were suffering. It became our goal to uplift their quality of life as well things like these came naturally to us. **Even with the Nano–I remember seeing a family of 4 on a bike in the heavy Bombay rain I wanted to do more for these families who were risking their lives for lack of an alternative.** By the time we launched the Nano, our costs were higher, but I’d made a promise & we delivered. Looking back, I’m proud of the car & the decision to go ahead with it.
 
That’s what my life has been about work became a lifestyle. I was always at Bombay House or travelling, that’s why even though I came close to marriage with 2-3 different partners, I couldn’t go through with it because they’d have to adjust to my lifestyle & that didn’t sit right with me. 

Now that I’m retired, that lifestyle has changed again. People ask if I’m truly ‘retired’ & to that I say—there’s no doubt about it. I’m enjoying the separation from the company I don’t look at newspapers & worry about the bad stuff anymore. But let me tell you, retirement isn't about playing golf, or reading on a beach, whilst sipping on a cocktail. In fact, never before has the urge to do more, been greater. From affordable cancer treatment, to making the lives in rural India easier I’m looking forward to making it happen at the Tata Trust. I’m trying to enjoy myself to be honest I’m spending time with friends old & new, across age groups, who I’m constantly learning from. 

At 82, I’m still learning, so when you ask me to give advice, I feel like the ‘right advice’ changes over a period of time but the one thing that remains unchanged is the desire to do the right thing. So I’ll say this leave the advice & do the right thing, even if it isn’t the easiest thing to do. When you look back at your life, that’s what’s going to matter the most. Doing the right thing.”
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