J.R.D. Tata Quotations

Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata / 19041993 / Paris, France / Aviator, Industrialist, Entrepreneur, Chairman of the Tata Group

Note: Tata was born in Paris to a wealthy Indian father and a French mother. The Tata clan—which already included several noted industrialists—were Parsis (Zoroastrians) based in the state of Gujarat.

Business and Economics

There is today hardly any country in the world outside the Communist bloc which does not have a mixed economy. In fact, even countries which call themselves socialist would object to theirs not being described as a mixed economy, for it would imply that it was a totalitarian one, while countries like Germany or Japan, usually thought of as having typically free enterprise economies, would do the same; for, otherwise, it would imply that theirs was a nineteenth century laissez-faire economy.

Address: “Why a Mixed Economy?,” Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India, New Delhi, April 4, 1975; reported in J.R.D. Tata, Keynote: Excerpts from his speeches and chairman’s statements to shareholders (1986).

Re: The psychology of delay:

Some of the causes of delay in coming to economic decisions in our country seem to lie in the psychological realm. There is such a thing as the psychology of power which motivates people: power of control and patronage, power to delay an application, power to hold up a file, power to keep people waiting in an ante-room, all of which are consciously or subconsciously treated as symbols of prestige and hallmarks of importance.

Report to the Central Advisory Council of Industries, New Delhi, January 3, 1969; reported in J.R.D. Tata, Keynote: Excerpts from his speeches and chairman’s statements to shareholders (1986).

Re: Being at the crossroads:

The effective execution of a Plan is what counts and not mere planning on paper; it is not what we put on our plate or even what we eat that provides nourishment and growth, but what we digest.

Report to the Central Advisory Council of Industries, New Delhi, August 13, 1965; reported in J.R.D. Tata, Keynote: Excerpts from his speeches and chairman’s statements to shareholders (1986).

India

While I usually came back from meeting Gandhiji elated and inspired but always a bit sceptical, and from talks with Jawaharlal [Nehru], fired with emotional zeal but often confused and unconvinced, meetings with Vallabhbhai [Patel] were a joy from which I returned with renewed confidence in the future of our country. I have often thought that if fate had decreed that he, instead of Jawaharlal, would be the younger of the two, India would have followed a very different path and would be in better economic shape that it is today.

J.R.D. Tata, Keynote: Excerpts from his speeches and chairman’s statements to shareholders (1986).

Re: The road to social justice:

The first and perhaps the most important of the factors which have contributed to our failure to make real impact on poverty expressed in terms of total number who live below the poverty line has clearly been the uncontrolled growth of our population. . . . First, we must, at all costs, make a much more earnest effort at controlling the growth of our population. As it is, we are running out of time and there is no longer any possibility of preventing it from exceeding 1,000 million souls by the end of the century.

Address, International Seminar of Economic Journalists, New Delhi, December 5, 1972; reported in J.R.D. Tata, Keynote: Excerpts from his speeches and chairman’s statements to shareholders (1986).

I cannot decide how much to borrow, what shares to issue, at what price, what wages and bonus to pay, and what dividend to give. I even need the government’s permission for the salary I pay to a senior executive.

J.R.D. Tata, Keynote: Excerpts from his speeches and chairman’s statements to shareholders (1986).

I don’t want India to be an economic superpower. I want India to be a happy country.

Reported in “The business ethics of J.R.D. Tata,” The Hindu, July 29, 2005.

Leadership

To lead men, you have to lead them with affection.

“Believing in Perfection,” New India Digest; cited in “Quotations by 60 Greatest Indians,” Dhirubhai Ambani Institute Information and Communication Technology, daiict.ac.in.

Not excellence. Perfection. You aim for perfection, you will attain excellence. If you aim for excellence, you will go lower.

“Believing in Perfection,” New India Digest; cited in “Quotations by 60 Greatest Indians,” Dhirubhai Ambani Institute Information and Communication Technology, daiict.ac.in.

If you want excellence, you must aim at perfection. It has its drawbacks but being finicky is essential.

“Believing in Perfection,” New India Digest; cited in “Quotations by 60 Greatest Indians,” Dhirubhai Ambani Institute Information and Communication Technology, daiict.ac.in.

Philosophy of Life

Live life a little dangerously.

J.R.D. Tata, Keynote: Excerpts from his speeches and chairman’s statements to shareholders (1986).

Never start with difference. Always start with confidence. When you work, work as if everything depends on you.

J.R.D. Tata, Keynote: Excerpts from his speeches and chairman’s statements to shareholders (1986).

Science and Technology

No institute of science and technology can guarantee discoveries or inventions, and we cannot plan or command a work of genius at will. But do we give sufficient thought to the nurture of the young investigator, to providing the right atmosphere and conditions of work and full opportunity for development? It is these things that foster invention and discovery.

J.R.D. Tata, Keynote: Excerpts from his speeches and chairman’s statements to shareholders (1986).

The essence of air transport is speed, and speed is unfortunately one of the most expensive commodities in the world, principally because of the disproportionate amount of the power required to achieve high speed and to lift loads thousands of feet into the air. This is strikingly illustrated by the fact that while an average cargo ship, freight train and transport aeroplane are each equipped with engines totalling about 2,500 H.P., the ship can carry a load of about 7,000 tons, the train 800 tons and the plane only two and a half tons.

Address, Bombay Rotary Club, November 2, 1943; reported in J.R.D. Tata, Keynote: Excerpts from his speeches and chairman’s statements to shareholders (1986).

Tata on Tata

I wish, I were big enough, like Einstein, to do what he did on one occasion. A hundred-dollar-a-plate dinner was organised for him to speak, and leaders of America in all fields, particularly in the field of science, were invited to hear the great man. When his turn came, he rose and said: “I’ve nothing to say,” and sat down. You can imagine the consternation, quite apart from the wasted cost of the dinner! Realising the frightful effect his remarks had on the audience, Einstein got up again and said: “When I’ve something to say, I’ll let you know.”

Address, Lions Club of Jamshedpur, August 22, 1963; reported in J.R.D. Tata, Keynote: Excerpts from his speeches and chairman’s statements to shareholders (1986).