By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
On His Birth Anniversary
J.R.D. Tata was the first Indian licensed pilot who founded Air India & Tata Group comprising of Tata Motors, Tata Chemicals, Air India & Voltas to name some. A noted aviator, industrialist & business tycoon, JRD was born in Paris, France and had his schooling & higher education at many place including France & India. He married Thelma in 1930.
Born to Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata, first cousin of Jamsetji Tata, who founded Tata Sons, JRD expanded his business worldwide.
JRD Tata visited Almora in 1965, a hill station in UP, enroute Kausani & spent few hours at SBI where my father A.S. Barhok was Agent. He was accompanied by Homi Bhabha & Akbar Ali, Member Rajya Sabha ( Later Governor, Uttar Pradesh). They wanted some help from my father as The Magistrate had refused to accede their small request. My father helped them & entertained them at Tea & Snacks as part of hospitality. JRD Tata liked the taste of Lopchu Tea mixed with Green Label for flavour & Red Label for color. It was sent from the residence, about 700 yards from the Bank in Tea Cosy, with milk & sugar cubes. They left in the late afternoon thanking for the courtesy.
JRD Tata later expanded his tea business adding various qualities & flavors. All the visitors sent letters to my father on their return to Bombay. My father was transferred to another city in 1966.
Homi Bhabha later died in an Air Crash in 1966. A misunderstanding, reportedly, between Geneva Airport & the pilot resulted in the crash. JRD Tata handed over the reign of Tata Group to Ratan Tata in 1991. He died in 1993.
