Today 3rd March 2024, we commemorate 185th Janma Jayanti (birth anniversary) of the legendary philanthropic industrialist, Jamsetji Tata, often hailed as the father of modern Indian industry, whose visionary ideas and philanthropic endeavours continue to shape the landscape of Indian business, more particularly the Tata group – which he founded – and its work culture which makes the brand TATA the most valuable and trust worthy brand not just in India but globally. His legacy, characterized by his relentless innovation and unwavering commitment to societal progress, remains an enduring inspiration for generations to come.
I was privileged to have been invited by the Mumbai University and Vigyan Bharti, the joint organisers of a National Seminar and an Exhibition on Jamsetji Tata, to be a member of a panel discussion in August 2023 at the centuries old historic venue of the convocation centre of the Mumbai University. Post the event, I had a pleasant surprise of getting an invitation from the Editor of Science India magazine to write an article on the role of Tata’s in establishing Scientific and Research institutions in Independent India. which I had the honour to write and this piece was later published in the Science India magazine. However, the published article had a size restriction and therefore today on this occasion of 185th birth anniversary of Jamsetji Tata, I am honoured to write this blog with a more detailed commentary on the legacy of the Tata’s in building scientific academic institutions in India for the leisure reading of my friends and followers on my Blog and on my Facebook.
The genesis for the contributions of the Tata’s in establishing scientific and research institutions in independent India takes us back to the ideals of the founding father of the Tata Group, Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata. “What advances a nation or community is not so much to prop up its weakest and the most helpless, as to lift the best and most gifted, so as to make them of the greatest service to the country." It was this thought of Jamsetji that his biographer, Frank Harris, chronicles in his book - Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata: A Chronicle of his Life, which became the genesis for the establishment of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) the premier science academic institution in India, which later birthed the ideas for founding the two premier institutions in India – Department of Atomic Energy and Indian Space Research Organisation by the two legends who had the honour to study and work at the Indian Institute of Science with Professor C V Raman, the Nobel Laureate.
IISc was the first scientific and research institution established by the Tata’s in 1909. However, it must also be remembered that by then the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Sciences (IACS), was already founded by a genius medical doctor and social reformer, Mahendra Lal Sirkar in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1876. But unfortunately, IACS – “devoted to the pursuit of fundamental research in the frontier areas of basic sciences” – was not supported by the government and it had to rely on public contributions. Therefore, IACS could not succeed during the lifetime of its founder and had to wait until the arrival of young CV Raman to Calcutta - in the early 20th century - and be associated with IACS to transform this institute into a world-class institute.
IISc was one of those three monumental vision projects of a veritably colossal character that Jamsetji Tata dreamt of – Tata Steel, Tata Hydroelectric Power, and the Indian Institute of Science - which proved to be a robust foundation for building, what Nehru termed, “temples of modern India”, post-independence. Beginning with the IISc, Tatas have established other institutions – Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Tata Institute of Social Science, National Centre for Performing Arts, Tata Memorial Hospital, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Computer Research Laboratory etc. - that have served as a catalyst for the establishment of canonical institutions like the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which have made the country proud through their science and technological achievements and contributions to the country.
This essay attempts to portray the role of the Tatas, with specific reference to its founder Jamsetji Tata, in establishing IISc.
Chance interaction between two co-passengers – Swami Vivekananda and Jamsetji Tata
Legend has it that the seed for establishing a world-class science and research institution in India was sowed in the mind of Jamsetji Tata during that historic voyage, which started on 14 July 1893, at 3.40 PM. On board, this ship were two passengers - Jamsetji Tata and Swami Vivekananda, who would, in their respective ways, be destined to shape the future of India. Jamsetji and Swami ji were on board the ocean liner SS Empress of India, which set sail from the Japanese port of Yokohama on its voyage to Vancouver, in British Columbia, Canada. Although there are no anecdotal or recorded data on what transpired between the two on board their long journey, yet, a letter that Jamsetji wrote to Swami Vivekananda in 1898, evidences what it may have been.
In his letter, dated 23 November 1898, addressed to Swami Vivekananda, Jamsetji recalls the discussion between the two of them that sparked an interest in Jamsetji in dreaming of building IISC. The letter reads “I trust you remember me as a fellow traveller on your voyage from Japan to Chicago. I very much recall at this moment your views on the growth of the ascetic spirit in India, and the duty, not of destroying, but of diverting it into useful channels. I recall these ideas in connection with my scheme of a Research Institute of Science for India, of which you have doubtless heard or read. It seems to me that no better use can be made of the ascetic spirit than the establishment of monasteries or residential halls for men dominated by this spirit, where they should live with ordinary decency, and devote their lives to the cultivation of sciences—natural and humanistic”. A long period of trials and tribulations was to elapse between the initial conception of establishing a scientific research institution - perhaps on that historic voyage in 1893 - to the birth of the Indian Institute of Science on May 27, 1909.
Trials and Tribulations in Building IISc
Jamsetji was an itinerant traveller who travelled the world to learn the best of science and technological practices for implementation in India. Therefore, it was no wonder that he chose one of his trusted aides, a young Parsi, Burjorji Padshah, who was a fellow of the Elphinstone College of Bombay to pursue a study of the best scientific research educational institutions in the Western world and to submit a report for establishment of such an institute in India. Burjorji Padshah became a central character in the setting up of what was to become IISc. Padshah was involved in all the major projects conceived by Jamsetji Tata, but executed after Tata’s death in 1904; the hydroelectric project, IISc, and the Jamshedpur steel factory.
Padshah, visited many countries in the West to study and understand how universities function. He then prepared a draft report for the establishment of a research institution in India which he submitted to Jamsetji by highlighting that “...such a university might be the crown of the existing universities.” He also stressed on the demand for postgraduate education in India. On receiving this report from Padshah, Jamsetji constituted a Provisional Committee, with Padshah as its head to study and finalise the report, which he could submit to the British for the establishment of a research institute in India. Jamsetji and Padshah met newly appointed viceroy-designate Lord Curzon and submitted their report on December 31, 1898. Being new to the job, Lord Curzon was in no hurry to act on the proposal, and therefore, he advised the Provisional Committee to invite a European scientist to advise on the venture. The committee chose Sir William Ramsay, the famous British chemist, and a future Nobel Prize winner (1904 for Chemistry) for this task.
Ramsay submitted a detailed report to the Government of India in early 1901 about the university (he called it the Indian Institute of Research) which he believed should be in Bangalore. One of the observations that Ramsey made while touring India in connection with the task, was that “for Indians, English remained a foreign tongue; but they applied all the powers of memory and imitation, with which he was so liberally endowed, to acquire the information for a degree, a stepping stone to a post in the government service.” He strongly recommended that an institution like the Indian Institute of Research, will break that job-seeking desire and create an ambiance for scientific research, which he believed will benefit India.
Jamsetji knew that the government would take its own time to support this project and for expediting it, he proactively met the Dewan of Mysore State, Seshadri Iyer, and sought his help for acquiring a suitable plot of land in Bangalore. Mr. Iyer, who was well known to Jamsetji, was also the advisor to the Regent Queen Vani Vilasa Sannidhana, who ruled the State on behalf of her son Krishna Rajendra Wadiyar IV, then still a minor. An extraordinary decision was made by the Mysore King to donate 371 acres of land in Bangalore for establishing the institute. He also provided an additional Rs. 5 lakhs towards capital expenditure for building the research institution. Armed with all these commitments and his own financial support of Rs. 30 Lakhs for the institution, Jamsetji, felt that it was just a matter of time before his dream could become a reality The land and money from the Mysore Maharaj were, however, formally handed over in 1907.
The British Government had some concerns about Ramsay’s suggestions and therefore another committee comprising Colonel John Clibborn, Principal of Thomason College of Civil Engineering (later renamed IIT Roorkee), and David Orme Masson, a professor from Melbourne University was appointed to make a recommendation. This committee made several recommendations (most of them were accepted) and also urged the Government to consider Roorkee as a potential location for the Institute, which was rightfully not accepted. Unfortunately, even after all these efforts by Jamsetji, the institute was yet to take off. By then, unfortunately, Jamsetji Tata passed away in May 1904. After several delays following his death, the Government finally passed on a vesting order on 27 May 1909, officially creating IISc. The Institute began with only two departments: General and Applied Chemistry and Electro-Technology and the students were admitted in IISc in 1911.
IISc Land Mark Building – The Library Block with an imposing Tower.
Much before the government permission and order was in place a decision was taken by Sir Dorabji Tata, able son of Sir Jamsetji Tata, to construct the Main Building and this work began even before the Institute was officially created in 1909. Interestingly, one of the students of Ramsey, Dr. Morris Travers, was chosen to be the First Director of this new institute and he arrived in India in late 1906. A chemist by training (he had worked with William Ramsay on the discovery of noble gases), Dr. Travers got the chance to be associated with the institution from its inception and he went on to become the founder, Director IISc.
Travers appointed CF Stevens, an architect from Bombay for the project and to prepare estimates and draw up a plan for the Main Building, called the Library Block. This building was estimated to cost Rs 13 lakh, well above what IISc could afford. According to Stevens’ plan, the Main Building was to be crowned by an imposing 150-foot tower and was to be a silver-grey granite structure roofed with red tiles built in a classical style using dressed stone. Most of the first floor was to be taken up by a large library; the east wing would have the chemistry labs and the west wing would have the electrical lab, along with a workshop. After several delays, this building was finally completed in 1919. Even today the main building continues to be a landmark for IISc.
During the first quarter century of IISc’s formative years from 1909 to 1933, the Institute embarked upon several viable scientific and technical investigations, which paved the way for the establishment of certain industries. Ever since its inception, the Institute has been laying a balanced emphasis on the pursuit of knowledge in basic science and engineering as well as on the application of its research findings for industrial and social benefits. What has been most remarkable in the historical profile of IISc, through its centenary and beyond, is the balance in the various domains of its activity: education, research, development, international outreach, and societal development. With the establishment of the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 1956, IISc came under its purview, being deemed as a university under the UGC Act.
IISc has helped produce many scientists and science and technology leaders in India. IISc also played a pivotal role in supporting HAL in the design and development of Asia’s first fighter aircraft HF 24 – Marut, which although not very successful, paved the way for the development of TEJAS Light combat fighter aircraft. Incidentally, the first of the IITs to come up in India was IIT Kharagpur, which was established courtesy of the efforts of Dr JN Ghosh who succeeded CV Raman as the Director of IISc. Other IITs followed later and they too have an imprint of IISc.
Some of the notable faculty associated with IISc who helped build other academic and research institutions in India include G N Ramachandran - bimolecular structures - S Ramaseshan who built schools in crystallography and materials science, Brahm Prakash, metallurgist, who helped build NML and VSSC and P K Kelkar who planned and set up the IITs at Bombay and Kanpur Looking at the Institute from a historical perspective, one can see that several illustrious men of science and engineering have studied or served at the Institute and have played a pivotal role in nation-building. Sir C. V Roman, Dr. Homi J. Bhabha, Dr. Vikram A. Sarabhai, Prof. Brahm Prakash, Prof. G. N. Ramachandran, Prof. Satish Dhawan, Prof. C.N.R. Rao, and Dr. R Chidambaram, - to mention only a few- have all enriched the academic life of the Institute. Over the years, IISc has evolved into the best multidisciplinary research and education institution in India that has international standing and repute.
Although IISc remains the crème de la crème of the institutions that the Tatas established some other institutions need to be mentioned.
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
The idea for the development of TIFR was seeded at IISc in the mind of its founder, Dr. Homi Bhabha, while he was at IISc working with Prof C V Raman. It was on 19 August 1943, Dr Bhabha, wrote a letter to J.R.D. Tata, the head of the Tata group, about his ambitious plan to establish a Fundamental Research Centre in Bombay, for which he appealed to JRD Tata for his support. Bhabha wrote; ‘the lack of proper conditions and intelligent financial support hampers the development of science in India, at the pace at which the talent in the country would warrant.’ He highlighted the importance of financial support that is necessary for the progress of Indian science, particularly for pure and fundamental scientific research, which would provide economic returns in the long term.
World War II was in a way responsible for Dr Homi Bhabha and his colleague, Dr Vikram Sarabhai to return back to India from England and work with Prof C V Raman at the Indian Institute of Science. The end of WWII provided an opportunity for Bhabha to return back to Cambridge, from where he had received a job offer. However, Dr Bhabha, felt that ‘it is one’s duty to stay in one’s own country’ and help in creating new institutions for national progress.
JRD Tata, who considered Jamsetji as his ideal, was always looking for opportunities in his entrepreneurship that would be beneficial for India. He found one such great opportunity for the Tata group to invest in the proposal which Dr. Bhabha had mooted in his letter. JRD Tata wrote back to Dr. Bhabha with great encouragement: ‘If you and some of your colleagues in the scientific world will put up concrete proposals backed by a sound case, I think there is a very good chance that the Tata Trusts would respond.’ Dr. Bhabha prepared a concrete proposal while still at IISc by listing out all his thoughts. Writing to the chairman of the Dorabji Tata Trust (12 March 1944) Bhabha highlighted; “such an institute would ensure that India had its own expertise for the development of nuclear energy in the future, and would not have to look abroad for it”. It is interesting to note that his letter and his vision for establishing a research centre for nuclear energy research predate the first atomic bomb.
The trustees of Dorabji Tata Trust saw how the vision of Dr. Bhabha would benefit the country, and decided to support him in the creation of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR). TIFR opened its doors in 1945, initially for a brief while in Bangalore, but shifted to Mumbai soon thereafter. Its first Mumbai home was a bungalow called ‘Kenilworth’, where Bhabha was born.
The Cosmic Ray Group was the first scientific team to begin functioning, followed by the Nuclear Emulsion and Electron Magnetism Group. The computer science and technology team began its work in 1954, and a full-scale computer, named the TIFRAC, was commissioned in 1960, which was the first Indian-made digital computer, a proud moment for the country. In 1962, TIFR moved to its beautiful current campus in Colaba, where it stands even today. When India began its atomic energy programme in the 1960s, TIFR had already trained competent scientists to steer this important national effort. In fact, ‘Apsara’, the first atomic reactor, built at BARC, and its control systems were constructed under the auspices of TIFR. The Indian nuclear program including the Pokhran I and Pokhran II, in a way, owe their genesis to TIFR.
Realizing the importance of the institute for its nation-building, in the year 1955, the Government of India decided to take responsibility for this institution with the Tatas continuing to be present on its governing council. Today, TIFR is a national centre of the Government of India under the purview of the Department of Atomic Energy – a creation of Bhabha. TIFR has consistently pursued the vision of Dr. Homi Bhabha in creating a world-class research centre and has made a significant contribution to India’s scientific and technological research including in the field of atomic energy programme. It has also birthed several new ideas including the establishment of the Centre for Development of Telematics – CDOT, which heralded the telecom revolution in India.
Today, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research stands as a testament to the vision of its founders and the dedication of generations of scientists who have contributed to its legacy. Its commitment to fundamental research, interdisciplinary collaboration, research excellence, and education has played a pivotal role in advancing Indian science. TIFR's influence is not merely confined to the realm of academia; it has a broader societal impact through technological advancements, the nurturing of scientific talent, and the promotion of a culture of curiosity and exploration. As India continues to aspire to greater heights in the scientific domain, TIFR's importance remains undiminished, serving as a beacon of inspiration for generations to come.
The Fight Against Cancer - Tata Memorial Hospital
Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) is one of the institutes, established by Tatas that has touched the lives of lakhs of people by helping them fight the scourge of cancer. It was established as a tribute to Sir Dorabji Tata, whose dream it was to establish a cancer hospital in India as a mark of respect for his wife, Lady Meherbai Tata, who had sadly died of leukemia in 1932. Shortly thereafter, Sir Dorabji Tata also passed away. But such was his determination and commitment to the cause that the Tata group headed by Sir Nowroji Saklatvala and the trustees of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust attached top priority to the project of creating the first cancer hospital in India. They invited an American expert, Dr. John Spies, an international expert to visit India and recommend the best-suited cancer research hospital for the country. The result was the establishment of the Tata Memorial Hospital in 1941.
Over the past several decades, the Tata Memorial Centre has been supported and managed by the Department of Atomic Energy. In 1941, when it was founded, it was yet another pioneering effort by the Tata Group, a gift to a nation that did not have a comprehensive cancer hospital of its own.
Tata Institute of Social Science
Social science was another subject that was very close to the heart of Jamsetji Tata. Therefore, it was but natural for the Tata group to support the establishment of a Dorabji Tata Graduate School of Social Work, which came up in 1936. In the year 1944, it was rechristened as the Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS), a premier institution in the country for professional training in social work. Ever since, TISS has emerged as a pioneer of social work education in the Asia Pacific region and has since made significant contributions in the area of social policy, planning, intervention strategies, and human resource development.
EKA –Tata’s foray into India’s first Super Computer.
Tatas are known for taking up challenges to develop the best for the country and one such opportunity, which the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), accepted was to build a Super Computer for India. The result was the development of the EKA Supercomputer, which became the fourth fastest supercomputer in the world. A proposal to build this Super Computer in India was mooted by two IITians Mr Sherwalkar and Karmakar who presented their idea to Mr S Ramadorai the Chief of TCS. Convinced with their idea, Mr Ramadorai, put up the proposal to Ratan Tata and sought his approval for this project which was capital intensive. Although the project faced many hiccups including a difference in opinion between the Tata group and Karmakar, the project came through.
Computer Research Laboratory (CRL) in Pune was commissioned by TCS for building a supercomputer that could clock 100 teraflops, a speed that was mandated to call the computer a Super Computer. Finally, when the project EKA - a Sanskrit name for “one” - was completed in 2007 it could work at 118 Teraflops, and it was declared the fourth fastest supercomputer in the world. It is achievements such as this in the international arena in the field of computers that have posited India to be at the forefront of IT and Tata Group has played its role in this endeavour.
Conclusion.
The legacy of the Tata family in building institutions in India is a remarkable testament to their commitment to social welfare, education, and industrial progress. Over the years, the Tatas have played a pivotal role in establishing a range of institutions that have had a profound impact on various sectors of Indian society. Their visionary approach and philanthropic endeavours have left an indelible mark on the country's development.
Images : Courtesy Wikipaedia ___________________________________________________________________________
