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With this, the process of documenting the of the Tata group’s history. Mr Lala had faced
present had begun but the idea of a central immense difficulties in gathering the material
Tata archives was still in the future. It was in for his book, ‘The Creation of Wealth’, a history
1978, at the time of the centenary celebrations of the Tata group. This experience made him
of the Empress Mills, a mill of the Central appreciate the importance of a business archives
India Spinning, Weaving and Manufacturing and he was keen that all Tata records be protected
Company, JN Tata’s first venture, that the and preserved before they were destroyed and lost
thought of having a central repository of records to posterity. He envisioned a museum-like space
first struck JRD Tata. It took another decade, which would be the repository for all important
however, for the idea to translate into reality. documents, speeches and other material relating
The inspiration was once again JN Tata: On the to the Tata group. Mr Lala persuaded JRD Tata to
occasion of his 150 birth anniversary in 1989, start the process of setting up such a facility till
th
the decision to set up TCA was finally taken. the decision was finally taken.
The credit for providing the final impetus for
setting up of the Archives goes to RM Lala, The first task was to collect all Records kept
publisher, author and a well-known chronicler under the custody of various Tata companies.

A letter written by RD Tata, to his son, JRD Tata, on October 31, 1922, advising him to take notes and preserve letters
for future reference. This advice from his father was probably the genesis of JRD’s interest in preserving history and
the inspiration for the setting up of the Tata Central Archives. $

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