Envisioned by a Parsi, planned by an American, named by a British Viceroy, landscaped by a German Botanist, the story of Jamshedpur is full of romance and valour.
Once Sakchi, a village in the princely State of Mayurbhanj, it was rechristened Jamshedpur by Lord Chelmford on January 2, 1919 in honour of the Founder of the Tata Group, Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, and Tata Steel’s contribution to the British war effort in World War I. The year 2019 marks 100 years of naming of the city as Jamshedpur.
Lord Chelmsford , who served as Governor General and Viceroy of India (1916 - 1921) had said: “ I can hardly imagine what we should have done during these four years (of the First World war) if the Tata Company had not been able to gift us steel rails which have been provided for us , not only for Mesopotamia but for Egypt, Palestine and East Africa, and I have come to express my thanks…It is hard to imagine that 10 years ago, this place was scrub and jungle ; and here, we have now, this place set up with all its foundries and its workshops and its population of 40,000 to 50,000 people. This great enterprise has been due to the prescience, imagination of the late Jamsetji Tata. This place will see a change in its name and will no longer be known as Sakchi, but will be identified with the name of its founder, bearing down through the ages the name of the late Mr Jamsetji Tata. Hereafter, this place will be known by the name of Jamshedpur.”
Today, a hundred years after Lord Chelmsford made his speech, Jamshedpur is synonymous with progress and growth.
“It is really a moment of pride for us. Our city has completed 100 years. From a small village we have grown to a great and vibrant city,” said Sukumar Sen, a retired bank employee staying at Sakchi.
Sen added that there is a common saying, “History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are.” A city without memory is like a city of madmen, a city devoid of any pride or glory. Proper respect and due regard should be given to all those who have worked for the greater good of city,”
“When my grandfather Ratansha Rustom Modi arrived the area around Sakchi was basically jungles. People used to travel in groups only. But as the company progressed the city also started developing and the community played key role in the progress. The Parsis share a rich long legacy with the Steel City,” recalled Dicky Mody.
From a small town to a commercial hub, the Steel City has come a long way. Increased civic services and infrastructure over the last couple of years have helped the city to grab the attention of the investors. The changing face of the city can be witnessed from the fact that AC Nielsen ORG MARG survey recently on the quality of life in cosmopolitan cities like Chandigarh , Bhubaneswar , Pune and Bangalore rated Jamshedpur as the second best in India after Chandigarh in quality of life index. The index took into account parameters like water and power supply, public services, health and environment, education, economy etc.