Coins for an icon

There have been many firsts in Jamsetji Tata’s life. Recently he became the first industrialist to be honored by the government of India by way of having commemorative coins struck to mark his 175th birth anniversary. The "father of Indian industry” was the choice of the Narendra Modi led Bharatiya Janata Party government and the coins were slated for release at a small ceremony at the Prime Minister’s residence on January 6, 2015, reported The Indian Express (IE) in its issue of January 5, 2015.

The set of Rs 100 and Rs 5 coins in silver bearing Tata’s bust were fabricated at the Calcutta Mint of the Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India. A collector’s item, the set is priced at Rs 4,500. For the present only 12 sets have been sent for presenting to dignitaries, IE notes. In all the years since independence in 1947 coins have been issued to honor the freedom struggle, freedom fighters, events, scientists, temples, institutions and organizations.
Tata had been twice honored by the Indian Post through the release of stamps, mentions IE — in 1958 to mark the golden jubilee of the steel industry in India and again in 1965 in recognition of his contribution to the industrialization of India. Born on March 3, 1839 in Navsari, Tata was the first businessman in a family of Zoroastrian athornans.
Harish Bhat, a member of the Group Executive Council of Tata Sons, in a piece published by The Times of India on January 8, 2015, observes: "There are many lessons this coin can teach us,” the first being the impact of patriotism. It also reminds us of Tata’s unwavering commitment to the country’s industrialization. Another lesson is "the need for business leaders to work in partnership with leaders of society. The former have wealth and ideas, the latter the pulse of their countrymen… The new coin urges our industrialists to dream restlessly for India, and build strong partnerships with leaders of our society in pursuing these dreams.”