Beyond the written word

An audiobook: Beyond the last blue mountain — A Life of JRD (1904-1993) by R. M. Lala. Published in 2007 by Charkha Audiobooks, an imprint of Karadi Tales Company Private Limited, 3A Dev Regency, 11 First Main Road, Gandhinagar, Adyar, Madras 600020, tel: 42054243, e-mail: contact@karaditales. com Time: 1 hour, 6 minutes, 32 seconds corresponding to 43 pages of text. Price: Rs 275.

"I want to be remembered as an honest man who did his duty.” The understatement of J. R. D. Tata finds a place in the audiobook on the legendary industrialist, the pioneer of civil aviation in India, a philanthropist… Described in the introduction as "a remarkable human being who led an extraordinary life,” JRD was wont to declare, "I do not consider myself an ‘illustrious personality’ but only an ordinary businessman and a citizen who has tried to make the best of his opportunities to advance the cause of India’s industrial and economic development.”

R. M. Lala: surefire script

The guiding principles of his life as summarized by him and so too his other statements are voiced for the audiobook by theater and screen artiste Boman Irani: "Nothing worthwhile is ever achieved without deep thought and hard work…One must think for oneself and never accept at their face value slogans and catch phrases… One must forever strive for excellence, or even perfection, in any task however small…No success or achievement in material terms is worthwhile unless it serves the needs or interests of the country and its people and is achieved by fair and honest means. Good human relations not only bring great personal rewards but are also essential to the success of any enterprise.”

The script for this audiobook is extracted from Lala’s signal other book on JRD, Beyond the last blue mountain and from The joy of achievement. This condensed version serves as a remarkable introduction or revision material to those not familiar with the multifaceted life of JRD. The narration in the voice of theater personality Shernaz Patel with end of chapter musical interludes by 3 Brothers and A Violin, scriptural renditions from the Gathas and Upanishads, lines from Robert Herriek’s To Blossoms and Lang­ston Hughes’ Dreams as also the universal favorite Abide with me add to the audiobook’s appeal. The accompanying text book also has some black and white photographs and illustrations of JRD’s early life, his interaction with board directors and employees of all rank, national leaders, flying experiences and of course his prized pilot’s licence of 1929 of which JRD candidly admitted, "No document has ever given me a greater thrill than the little blue and gold certificate delivered to me…The fact that it bore the Number 1 added to my pride in owning it, even though it meant nothing more than that I was the first one to have qualified in India.”

Though JRD must have weathered many storms in his life, unfortunately the binding of this booklet could not even withstand a single reading.

Paris born JRD’s early education was in different schools. His inability to go to Cambridge for higher studies as originally planned was a perennial cause of dissatisfaction. As he noted, "Father decided that a college degree was not essential for a career in Tatas and summoned me to India. This decision is one I’ve regretted throughout my life and which caused me to have a long-lasting inferiority complex.” By the age of 22 he had lost both his parents and had to take responsibility of his four siblings, the eldest Sylla then being 24, and the youngest Jimmy, only 10. Straining and slogging to prove his mettle, he endeavored "to be worthy of Tatas.”

J. R. D. Tata’s pilot’s licence No. 1

As chairman for 52 years of India’s largest industrial group, he managed to take the enterprise forward from 14 companies he inherited to 95 companies. And yet the astute industrialist asserted, "I don’t want India to be an economic super power. I want India to be a happy country… I believe that the social responsibilities of an industrial enterprise should extend even beyond serving people, to the environment.” During his stewardship, the institutions that he helped create were Air India, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, the Tata Memorial Hospital, the National Centre for the Performing Arts and the Tata Theatre. The cultural connoisseur was convinced that without art and music, man is incomplete.

On his deathbed at a Geneva hospital, JRD spoke in French to a relative, "I am about to discover a new world. It is going to be very interesting…” Ever an adventurer, he had given vent to his feelings when he was in his early eighties, "Friends who tell me it is ridiculous and foolhardy for an octogenarian to ski, fly a plane or drive fast cars, do not understand the thrill and sense of self-fulfillment obtained from living a little dangerously.”