Tata Steel celebrates 163rd Birth Anniversary of Sir Dorabji Tata

Jamshedpur: Tata Steel today celebrated the 163rd birth anniversary of Sir Dorabji Tata with a lot of fervour  across its plants, mines and offices in the country.

As part of the celebrations, homage ceremonies were organised in the plant premises located at Jamshedpur, Kalinganagar and Meramandali. Senior officials, and employees of Tata Steel offered floral tributes to Sir Dorabji Tata. Similar homage paying ceremonies were held at the offices located across the country as well as in the mining locations and downstream facilities like Khopoli and Sahibabad.

Sir Dorabji Tata was the first Chairman of Tata Steel, who infused the Company with standards in corporate governance that were way ahead of its time. He introduced first-ever initiatives like 8-hour day work, maternity leave, provident fund, accident compensation, free medical aid and many more welfare measures, long before they became legal obligations.

In Jamshedpur, the day’s celebrations started with homage ceremony at Sir Dorabji Tata Park.  Sanjiv Paul, Vice President, Safety, Health and Sustainability, Tata Steel, graced the occasion as Chief Guest and the Guest of Honour for the occasion was Shahnawaz Alam, Vice President, Tata Worker’s Union (TWU). The event was graced by the presence of Dr J J Irani, Former Managing Director, Tata Steel.

On this occasion, Sanjiv Paul, Vice President, Safety, Health and Sustainability, Tata Steel, said “Sir Dorabji Tata, son of illustrious father, Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, translated his father’s dreams by setting up the Tata Iron and Steel Company (TISCO, now Tata Steel) in 1907, Indian Institute of Science in 1909, and Tata Hydro Electric Power Supply Company Limited (now Tata Power Company Limited) in 1910. In the process, he laid the foundation of economic freedom when India was under the British rule. Tata Steel and India are greatly indebted to Sir Dorabji Tata for his invaluable contributions.”

Shahnawaz Alam, Vice President, Tata Worker’s Union, said, “Sir Dorabji Tata is the architect of industrial relation in India. During his leadership as the Chairman of Tata Steel, many labour welfare schemes were introduced like eight-hour working day, free medical aid, leave with pay, maternity leave, to name a few. For the citizens of Jamshedpur, he ensured quality of services like wide roads, houses, markets, hospital, parks and gardens, water supply, etc. We will forever be grateful to this man of steel.”

The homage ceremony was also attended by the senior management of Tata Steel, former senior executives of Tata Steel, office bearers of Tata Worker’s Union, members of Citizen Advisory Council, and Heads of Company from Tata Steel group companies.

A digital homage was also organised for the employees to pay Sir Dorabji Tata their tribute. Another celebration session with the guest speakers was organised at JRD Tata Sports Complex for the cadets of various sports academies. Around 200 cadets attended the session.

A keen sportsman from his early years, Sir Dorabji Tata was the first President of the Indian Olympic Association and was instrumental in steering India’s entry into the Olympics.

To celebrate his love for sports, like every year, the Company organised a panel discussion themed “A Celebration of Sports” in Jamshedpur. Savita Punia, Captain, Indian Women’s Hockey Team and Avinash Sable, Track and Field Athlete were the main speakers and the panel was moderated by Rajiv Seth, Project Director, Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre.

 Savita Punia is the world’s best Hockey Goalkeeper of 2022. Naib Subedar Avinash Sable is a track and field athlete, who specialises in the 3000m steeplechase. He holds the national record of 8:11.20, set at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where he won the silver medal.

 In Joda, Tata Steel officials, employees and Union representatives paid the homage at the Sir Dorabji Tata Botanical Park. To mark the occasion, a plantation programme was also organised in Joda in which about 100 saplings of fruit bearing varieties were planted.

Various sports competitions were organised among the employees and their family members in our plants in Meramandali and Kalinganagar in Odisha.

 The legacy of Sir Dorabji Tata will continue to inspire generations of businessmen and entrepreneurs in the future. Tata Steel salutes the courage and conviction of this pioneer and will continue to work towards building a stronger and self-reliant India.