Page 6 - TCA-booklet-silver-jubilee-book

PREFACE

FN SUBEDAR

Chairman, Tata Services Limited

T on January 7, 1991. I vividly recall the presence of
ATA CENTRAL ARCHIVES
(TCA), the first business archives to be set
JRD Tata and other great men like NA Palkhivala
up in India, has now become a benchmark
our first Archivist, AN Mambro, who was
for businesses wishing to conserve their past for and JJ Bhabha at this event. I also remember
future generations. Since its inception 25 years instrumental in setting up the initial collection
ago, TCA has traversed a challenging and fulfilling of documents at the office located at Fort,
journey. As custodians of the Tata heritage, we Bombay (now Mumbai).
collect, catalogue, preserve and restore the rich
legacy of the Tata group for dissemination to The next significant milestone was the move
future generations. to the new TCA building in Pune on
February 13, 2001. This building was constructed
TCA has been fortunate and privileged to have under the personal supervision of JJ Bhabha. It
been part of the 150-year legacy institutionalised was designed in the same architectural style as
by JN Tata, the Founder of the Tata group. the Tata Management Training Centre (TMTC)
JN Tata’s accomplishments were the fruits of a rich heritage building in Pune.
imagination, an innovative mind and an almost
limitless range of interests. A man who was truly TCA not only preserves the history of the group
ahead of his time. A man who dreamt of hydro- but also strives to help future generations imbibe
electricity for his beloved Bombay (now Mumbai) the Tata group’s culture and ethos. It was with this
to address pollution, a malaise we grapple with very vision that TCA was set up on the campus of
even today. He desired a steel plant since he was the TMTC. Participants of TMTC are encouraged
convinced that ‘the nation which gains control to spend some time at the Archives learning about
of iron soon acquires the control of gold’. The the rich history of the Tata group.
distribution of his wealth was carefully planned.
He invested his wealth for the industrialisation of The restoration and set up of the JN Tata
India, as well as in trusts for various philanthropic birthplace in Navsari, undertaken by TCA, has
schemes for the benefit of the country. been a cherished and fulfilling moment. It all came
from the Collections that the Archives had, which
TCA houses Records of this remarkable enterprise were put together by the team.
that pioneer several industries in India, helping
the country secure a prominent place in the league The mobile exhibitions that have been curated
of industrialised nations. over the last few years, showcasing JN Tata’s vision
to people around the country, especially to the
I consider it a great privilege to be a part — in a youth, is another facet of TCA that stands out.
small way — of TCA’s 25-year journey right from The exhibitions have been taken to his birthplace,
its launch. I was part of the group of employees Navsari; to Nagpur where he started his first
present at the inauguration of the Archives held venture and to his passion, the Indian Institute of

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