Latest news with #JRDTata
New Indian Express
a day ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Going beyond blame game to address fear of flying
Not a day has passed since the Air India crash in Ahmedabad when there has not been an incident involving planes—takeoffs aborted, aircraft skidding off runways, engines catching fire, flights returning to base after takeoff, cancellations, and diversions to other airports due to technical glitches have almost become routine. We also had six helicopter crashes involving pilgrims in Uttarakhand in this period, out of which two were fatal accidents. No wonder a sense of foreboding pervades the public's mind. The vivid live video of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner fireball and images of its aftermath are still haunting the imagination of the nation and the world. Though more people die in road and train accidents in India than anywhere else in the world, people are asking, 'Is it safe to fly?' This is why we have to look at the larger picture of Indian aviation today. First, of course, is Air India. The preliminary investigation report into its flight 171 crash has raised more questions than answers. It has stoked conspiracy theories and TV-presenters-on-steroids are working overtime sowing confusion. Aspersions are being cast by the pilots' association on the integrity and fairness of the probe agencies. Charges are being levelled that the truth has already been made a casualty. Given the trepidation in the air, the aviation ministry and Directorate General of Civil Aviation must do everything to earn the confidence of the public and the aviation community. They must speedily conclude the full investigation and publish the report for public knowledge. The cause of the accident must be established without fear—to learn from and avoid future disasters. For itself, Air India has to get its act together fast and earn back the reputation of its glory days during JRD Tata's charismatic leadership in the pioneering phase before independence. The airline lost its sheen and glamour after nationalisation and JRD's exit from the airline. It has had never-ending woes ever since.
India Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Naseeruddin Shah brings JRD Tata to life in Made in India-A Titan Story
Naseeruddin Shah Brings J.R.D. Tata to Life in Amazon MX Player's series 'Made in India – A Titan Story'Actor Naseeruddin Shah's first look as Indian industrialist and Bharat Ratna recipient, JRD Tata was unveiled on July 29, 2025. The date marks the former Tata Group chairperson's 121st birth anniversary. Shah plays the role of the late entrepreneur in the upcoming Amazon MX Player and Almighty Motion Picture-backed show offers a cinematic glimpse into the visonary legacy of JRD Tata. The series also features actor Jim Sarbh portraying Xerxes Desai, the pioneering founder of Titan Watch Company. Sarbh, has earlier acted in Prime Video's 'Made in Heaven' (2019-2023) series. A stellar ensemble cast including actors Namita Dubey, Vaibhav Tatwawaadi, Kaveri Seth, Lakshvir Saran, and Paresh Ganatra play key roles. 'Made in India – A Titan Story' new look: Actor Naseeruddin Shah's first look as JRD Tata was unveiled on the Indian industrialist's birth anniversary. 'Made in India – A Titan Story' is produced by Prabhleen Sandhu (Founder, Almighty Motion Picture), directed by Robby Grewal, and written by Karan Vyas. The show captures the remarkable journey of brave vision, leadership, innovation and enterprise that contributed to nation-building and defined the Tata the announcement promo here: Previously, an announcement video was also released about Shah and Sarbh's characters. The series is set in the 1980s and depicts the partnership between JRD Tata and Xerxes Desai. It shows how two individuals built an empire with their revolutionary products during tough times. 'Made in India – A Titan Story' is inspired by Vinay Kamath's bestselling book, Titan: Inside India's Most Successful Consumer Brand. The story emphasises the challenges faced by the consumer watchmaking brand while pursuing entrepreneurial who plays a pivotal role in the show, had earlier featured in Prime Video's 'Gehraiyaan' (2022).'Made in India – A Titan Story' is slated for an early release in series will premiere exclusively on Amazon MX Player for free, available through the MX Player app on mobile and Connected TVs, on the Amazon shopping app, Prime Video, Fire TV, and Airtel Xtreme.- EndsMust Watch
Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Spice of Life: Take wing, fly with faith in solidarity
A surge of anticipation flows when boarding a flight. Not quite the same when chugging on parallel lines on a Vande Bharat or a Shatabdi, though that has a romance of its own. The other day, I flew the Maharaja to the capital on purpose, on a Dreamliner, not because there were no options available, but in solidarity, and with faith. It is still the safest mode of travel, and they give it their best. (Reuters File Photo) Flying with the Maharaja comprises childhood memories of skimming the cumulus and the cirrus or watching the setting sun in sub-continental skies. My experience with the Maharaja began with the Douglas DC-3s, called the Dakota, in the 1950s. The man of the moment and pioneer of Indian aviation was the legendary JRD Tata. I still remember with nostalgia the flight to Kashmir, my first, with my parents, looking out of the porthole, marvelling at mountains below. I couldn't help grinning ear to ear, and, so the story goes, walked a foot above the tarmac with delight upon landing, if that were even possible. Later came their Lockheed Constellations, flying falcons had such regal names: Rajput Princess, Himalayan Princess, Maratha Princess, Malabar Princess, et al. They then graduated to the names of illustrious Ranis of Jhansi, Chittor, Ellora, and Ayodhya. All along, though, the beturbaned Maharaja adorned the tail, with gentle humility, but a moustache twirled to the skies. One admired the chivalry of the Maharaja for letting the girls take the lead. Once the Boeing 707s came, the names of the Himalayan peaks began to adorn the aircraft from Annapurna, Kanchenjunga, Nanga Parbat to the Everest. With the advent of the mammoth 747s, the real Maharaja came into his own. Now, penned on the side, were Emperor Akbar, Ashoka, Vikramaditya, and Samudragupta, to mention a few that I flew. Back then, before emplaning, one noted the name of the craft one was flying with pride, and the flight number was just that, a number to be forgotten as soon as one touched terra firma. But those were different times. As children, we were even allowed into the cockpit of an Ariana Afghan aircraft that flew into Amritsar from Kabul. We chatted with the pilots and came away with hugs from the air-hostesses and handfuls of candies. Today, the skies are crowded, the security stressful, and these liberties are passe. The challenges of those managing flights have also skyrocketed: Crew that manage public misbehaviour with patience are stretched to the limits, and pilots have to brave aggressive weather systems, made even more hostile by climate change. So, when a brave pilot takes a beating to his Airbus in a hailstorm or patiently assuages the passengers during turbulent monsoonal surges, I keep my calm and say a prayer, not for myself, but for the crew that battles the odds for us. The other day, I flew the Maharaja to the capital on purpose, on a Dreamliner, not because there were no options available, but in solidarity, and with faith. It is still the safest mode of travel, and they give it their best. As I flew with young crew members, conversations turned grim many a time, the tragedy still raw in our hearts. But take wing we shall nevertheless, as even this shall pass, and flying is now a necessity, much like the cause of the young bird who has to fly. So, take heart, fellow travellers, as the skies are still the limit, even for those without wings. The writer is an Amritsar-based business leader and can be reached at gunbirsingh@
Indian Express
10-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Beyond Boomers, Millennials and Gen Z: Why India needs its own generational framework
Written by Madhu Bhavaraju Millennials. Gen Z. Boomers. These tags have become so embedded in our vocabulary that we seldom question them. They're used in marketing decks, recruitment discussions, and even family WhatsApp debates. But their origins are distinctly American. The 'Boomers' emerged from post-WWII prosperity in the US. 'Gen X' from the disillusionment of the Cold War. 'Millennials' came of age during the tech boom. These markers are born from Western economic, social, and political events. US-based frameworks don't account for the complex social, economic and cultural factors that play out in India. An 80-year-old 'Boomer' in the US is very different from an 80-year-old in India. This is because India's story is different. It is a nation where the pace and nature of change defy imported frameworks. The same household often contains people born in different Indias — an Independence-era grandparent, a liberalisation-era parent, and a child who is fluent in the language of reels. We need a generational framework that reflects our own reality. One that is shaped by Independence and post-Independence idealism, by black-and-white Doordarshan and colour cable TV, by the 1991 liberalisation and the 2010s internet boom. A framework that captures India's own unique and eventful journey over the last 75 plus years. Here's an attempt to decode India through five homegrown generations: Defining trait: Scarcity mindset, frugality, nation-building This is the generation of Independence and Partition. Of handmade goods, ration lines, and radios. They witnessed wars, food shortages, and the slow churn of the socialist economy. Their icons were JRD Tata and MS Subbulakshmi. They placed immense value on institutions such as LIC or HMT — brands that stood for trust and self-reliance. For them, ownership meant pride. Travel was rare and mostly by rail. They taught us 'jugaad' — not as a hack, but as a necessity. Defining trait: Aspirational, but restrained This is the generation that grew up waiting: Waiting for milk, gas cylinders, scooters, jobs and opportunities. They were used to delayed gratification and their dreams often went unfulfilled. Icons ranged from Amitabh Bachchan to Rakesh Sharma. Brands like Nirma and Bata dominated consumption. Foreign travel meant migration out of India. This is the generation that taught us to 'study hard' so we could escape the system they were stuck in Defining trait: Dual identity, with one foot in old India, one in the new Cable TV, the cola wars, Sachin Tendulkar, Shah Rukh Khan. This was the generation that saw India open up. This generation saw the first PCs and dial-up internet. They grew up on Doordarshan and graduated to MTV. They were the first to experience choice. They have a strong brand affinity and will pay for quality. Brands like Levi's, Coke, and Maruti became badges of identity. Travel behaviour slowly changed to budget airlines and international vacations. They were the first to see India go from scarcity to abundance and they remember both. Defining trait: Americanised, digital native, less baggage more choice This is the generation of smartphones, Instagram, and global exposure. They grew up with Facebook, and YouTube. Their icons are Virat Kohli, Elon Musk or Deepika Padukone. They value convenience over brand loyalty and experience over ownership. They travel to Insta-worthy places and stay in Airbnbs. They are India's first truly digital consumers but also the most distracted. Defining trait: Native internet fluency, cultural confidence They don't know a world without smartphones. They are growing up with ChatGPT tutors and influencers. The big cultural change is that their worldview is shaped by social media influencers. They don't just consume content, they create it. They expect brands to play by their rules. They will shape a future of creator-founded D2C (direct to customer)-first brands. Any strategy to connect with the people needs to account for cultural memory, not just age. A 40-year-old in India is not the same as a 40-year-old in the US. The reference points, anxieties, and aspirations are different. Policymakers designing pension plans or digital literacy schemes need to understand generational mindsets shaped by tough times, not purely income brackets. EdTech companies need to speak to parents or grandparents who fear technology and children who are digital natives. Consumer brands must evolve rapidly to catch up to internet native customers who will soon become primary decision makers with big spending capacity. India has seen major events from Independence to wars to socialism to economic stagnation to growth. At the level of the family unit, we have changed from large joint families to solo living within two generations. We've lived many lives in a single lifetime. We deserve to define those lives on our own terms and not borrowed ones. The writer is Founder – The Brand Ignition Co
Indian Express
14-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
A new biography of John Matthai discusses his policy contributions in the early years of independent India
John Matthai played a significant role in shaping government economic policies at the dawn of Independence but it has taken more than 60 years since his death for a definitive biography on the respected Syrian Christian economist, academician and technocrat. Matthai would have been pleased at the choice of his biographer, Bakhtiar Dadabhoy, who brings a thoughtful, research-oriented and measured approach, reflective of his subject. Matthai was a man for all seasons: India's first railways minister, the second finance minister, first chairperson of the State Bank of India, chairperson of the Taxation Inquiry Commission, vice chancellor of Bombay University and Kerala University, and a member of the Tariff Board pre-Independence, besides other significant positions. Matthai is probably best remembered today as the main author of the Bombay Plan of 1944, an action plan for economic development in independent India, underwritten by a few industrialists. He worked on it at the behest of JRD Tata, as Matthai had had a long and successful stint with the Tata group. He fitted in comfortably at the business house controlled almost exclusively in those days by the clannish Parsis. He even became the first non-Parsi chairperson of the powerful Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and was Tata chairperson JRD Tata's blue-eyed boy. His colleague, the witty Sir Homi Modi, joked about Matthai's characteristic solemnity — that even when he said, 'Good morning'' it sounded like a papal benediction. Matthai's years at Tata were his happiest, his several stints in government less serendipitous. The prickly, principled Matthai did not last very long in any post because of his intransigence and independence. His most famous fall-out was with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru over the Planning Commission. Nehru, impressed by Matthai's wealth of experience in business, administration and academics, invited him to join the first cabinet as a representative of the Christian community. Matthai became railway minister. It was the worst possible time, World War II having weakened the economy and Partition having wreaked havoc. Matthai was given the thankless job of partitioning the railways between the two new countries in less than eight weeks. The railway minister was often at loggerheads with home minister Sardar Patel, who wanted to run more trains, while Matthai felt that the overriding priority for evacuation trains was for the Army and police to protect the trains carrying fleeing migrants. When India's first finance minister Shanmukham Chetty, Patel's choice, resigned, Matthai was appointed in his place. It was not a propitious start. Matthai's first budget was generally panned as being pro-rich and inequitable, with high postal hikes and levy on coarse cloth. He was also caught off-guard by the devaluation of the pound, taking at face value the British government's official assurance that the pound, to which the rupee was pegged, would not be demonetised. But it was Matthai's differences with Nehru which brought matters to a head. Nehru, inspired by Fabian Socialism and the Russian example, wanted direct control over the planning process. Though a student of the Fabian socialist Sydney Webb, Matthai, who had first-hand experience in the business world, was more concerned about conserving the economy, especially in view of the stringency of resources, rather than redesigning it. He apprehended that the Planning Commission would emerge as a parallel Cabinet with its deputy chairman exercising more power than the finance minister. While submitting his resignation, Matthai was stiff and unbending. Nehru felt hurt by what he considered Matthai's discourteous behaviour when he was trying to placate him. In hindsight Matthai's apprehensions proved to be well-founded and there were repeated economic crises in the country over the next decades. Erosion of control was an issue which exercised Matthai greatly. Years later when he was appointed vice chancellor of Bombay University, he objected to governors of states being ex-officio chancellors of universities. He was rather aggressive with the gentlemanly governor of Bombay state, Sri Prakasa, who had newly arrived. The principle he was fighting for to protect academic freedom from political interference was very valid. Historians and economists will gather much insight from Dadabhoy's accounts of Matthai's finance and railway budgets and the report of the Taxation Inquiry Commission, but the subjects could be heavy going for an average reader. The Matthai family is full of achievers. His son Ravi was the first director of the IIM Ahmedabad, his nephew Verghese Kurien became the father of the milk revolution, having landed up in Anand quite by coincidence. One would have preferred more insight into the personal life of Honest John, a nickname given incidentally by Nehru. Unfortunately, Matthai seems to have destroyed most of his private and official papers. The author is contributing editor, The Indian Express
