Did you know that founder of Tata Steel Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata once attended a lecture by philosopher Thomas Carlyle in which Mr Carlyle said: “The nation which gains control of iron soon acquires the control of gold.” Inspired by these words, Tata decided to establish India’s first steel plant or that Tata Steel helped shape another iconic landmark – Calcutta’s Howrah Bridge. Of the 26,500 tonnes of steel used to construct the cantilever bridge, 23,000 tonnes of heavy tensile steel came from Jamshedpur.

The one-stop for all such information on Jamshedpur, and more such interesting trivia is  Tata Steel Archives that is situated at Centre of Excellence (CFE), near Jubilee Park. It is one of the first archives in the country by a private organisation.

 Eminent personalities like Bharat Ratna APJ Abdul Kalam (former President of India) and Kevin McCole (currently, Chief Operating Officer, UK India British Council) have graced its portals.

Tata Steel Archives was established to store documents such as letters, reports, maps and charts of historical data pertaining to Tata Steel. It serves as a central repository for future reference.

A total of 15 lakh original documents have been housed and over 1 lakh documents has have been digitised to retrieve data at a greater speed. It is a pioneering effort by Tata Steel to conserve what is in effect the history of the industrial development of modern India. Tata Steel Archives is a heritage centre that offers invaluable archival material for reference and research

In a city inspired by the vision of its founder Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, dotted by landmarks that personify the Tata spirit, the 5.5 acres Centre for Excellence is a place where a treasure house where one can learn about the vision of J N Tata, the work of the pioneers, contemporary art,  and also experience the technological marvel that is Tata Steel today.

Constructed as per the vision of renowned architect Hafeez Contractor, Centre for Excellence is an impressive landmark in Jamshedpur, on the edge of Jubilee Park on Jubilee Road in Northern Town. It has a vast gallery of photographs and serves as a priceless archive of information on one of the largest conglomerates in the world – Tata Steel Group.

Centre for Excellence – that houses the Tata Steel Archives – has its doors open to visitors who enter as admirers of the Tata brand and, leave its portals, enriched with its legacy. Photographs, maps, reports, etc. contribute to 15 lacs documents that are maintained at the Archives and this huge repository of facts has been aiding research work in corporate history.

Tata Steel Archives has been attracting visitors from all walks of life. Not only the common folk employees, locals, students and researchers but eminent personalities have visited the archives.

 Caption- Tata Steel Archives at Centre of Excellence (CFE), near Jubilee Park  in Jamshedpur