Sir Dorabji Tata Biography, Life, Career

Dorabji Tata was an Indian Industrialist Known for making efforts into building the Tata Group. He was the eldest son of Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, Founder of Tata Group. He is also credited with sending Indian candidates to the Olympics even before the establishment.

SIR DORABJI TATA BIOGRAPHY

NAME	Dorabji Tata
DATE OF BIRTH	27 August 1859
PLACE OF BIRTH	Bombay, British India
DATE OF DEATH	3 June 1932( aged 72)
PLACE OF DEATH	Bad Kissingen, Germany
FATHER	Jamsetji Tata
MOTHER	Hirabai
SIBLINGS	Ratanji Tata
SCHOOL	Propriety High School, Mumbai
COLLEGE	University of Cambridge(1877) and St. Xavier’s College, Bombay
PROFESSION	Industrialist, Philanthropist
SPOUSE	Meherbai Bhabha
AWARDS	British Knighthood

Early Life and Education

• Sir Dorabji Tata was born on 27th August 1859 in the Bombay Presidency to a Parsi Family. His parents were Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata and Hirabai. He was the eldest son of his parents and his younger brother was Ratanji Tata.
• He studied at the Propriety High school in Bombay and at the age of 16, He was sent to Kent, England and was tutored privately. He enrolled into the university of Cambridge at the age of 18.
• During his education in England, he became fond of sports, learned Horse Riding, Tennis and Rower, took part in many events at his college.
• After returning to India he studied at the University of Bombay. In 1182, He Received his degree in Bachelor of Arts and He Worked as a Journalist for two years at the Bombay Gazette, a National Daily. After working as a Journalist he involved himself in his father’s business. To understand more about the business and extract essential information he travelled widely. He went to Pondicherry, where he established a textile project.

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Dorabji Tata’s Career

• Jamsetji Tata sent his son to supervise the company’s Flagship in Nagpur, Empress Mills. He Admired and Valued his father’s Vision and Ambition. In 1924, Tata Steel was about to hit rock bottom. It was an era of great instability due to world war and earthquake that hit Japan.
• Tata Iron and Steel Company flourished during the world war due to the high demand of steel but after the war international prices dropped. The Company almost went Bankrupt to the point they were unable to cover expenses and even pay the wages. Banks and British officials were hesitant to offer support.
• Dorabji had to pledge his personal wealth and his wife Meherbai babha’s Jewelries as collateral to receive a loan from Imperial bank of India. This sacrifice proved to be fruitful. After certain years, the demand for steel rose and Profited the TISCO.
• He stressed over the importance of hydroelectric electricity to back the Companies. All the Companies under dorabji’s Reign Grew by several Folds. He founded the New India Assurance Co Ltd. In 1919. The Insurance company had been Nationalized in the year 1973.

Other Ventures of Dorabji Tata

• Dorabji Tata took Great Interest in Sports since college days, he tried his hands on different sports. He extended his support in the creation of the Indian Olympic Association.
• India sent its Contingent in the year 1920 under the great supervision of Sir Dorabji Tata. As the president of the Indian Olympic Council He extended financial support to the contingent that participated in the Paris Olympic 1924. He was also a member of the International Olympic Committee.
• Sir Dorabji Tata is also credited with the Founding of Other sports institutions and clubs. The Willingdon SPorts Club, the Parsi Gymkhana, the High Schools Athletic Association and the Bombay Presidency Olympic Games Association.
• The Lady Tata Memorial Trust was set up by the fund in the research of leukemia from which meherbai suffered from. Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Trust raised awareness about the personal hygiene of women, health and for public welfare, it raised public funds.
• Sir Dorabji Tata Trust aims to uplift people from all caste, class, gender and irrespective of Nationality. 
• "Kind fate has prompted me to help in bringing to completion his inestimable legacy of service to the country."

Personal Life

• He Married Meherbai Bhabha in 1897. She was the daughter of Dr. Hormusji Bhabha, First Indian Inspector-General of Education of Mysore State. They did not have any children.
• Meherbai’s grandfather was the Industrialist DInshaw Maneckji Petiti and her Brother was Jehangir Bhabha. Famous Scientist and pioneer of ISRO Dr Homi J. Bhabha was her nephew and Dorabji Funded for the Research Endeavours.
• He Breathed his last on 3 June 1932, in bad kissingen, germany he was 72 years old and buried in Brookwood Cemetery, Woking.