Tata Steel celebrated the 158th birth anniversary of Sir Dorab Tata on Sunday at Sir Dorabji Tata Park. The chief guest, TV Narendran, managing director, Tata Steel, India and SEA and the guest of honour, R Ravi Prasad, President, Tata Workers’ Union paid homage to the legend by offering floral tributes.
In his address to the gathering, Mr Narendran said, “The vision and the wisdom of Mr JN Tata was translated into what we see around us by Sir Dorab Tata. The challenges of setting up the Steel plant here over a hundred years back was many times greater than some of the challenges that we have gone through in setting up Kalinganagar Steel plant. In those days, the employees came from various parts from across the globe, stayed here and built the steel plant and the town.” He further said ‘The pioneering spirit, the willingness to take chances and other thoughts which were translated into action by our founders have laid the foundation for the value system of Tata Steel’
Speaking on the occasion Ravi Prasad said “JN Tata’s dream was fulfilled by Sir Dorab Tata. He worked for the welfare of employees from the very beginning and included schemes like Provident Fund, Medical Aid, Maternity leave, Gratuity etc. We feel proud to be a part of a Company that started so many benefits for the employees which were later made mandatory by the Government.”
Dorabji was the elder son of JN Tata. When steel prices stumbled after World War I and Tata Steel was not in a position to pay its workers, Sir Dorabji pledged his assets and his wife's jewellery to obtain a loan to disburse salaries.
Sir Dorabji was also a keen sportsman from his early boyhood. He also distinguished himself as a tennis player and played football and cricket for his college.