The Tatas
Who is the founder of the Tata Group? Take the rediff business quiz and see how much you know about Tatas, India's first business family, and the founder of the group.
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1. Who is the founder of the Tata Group? a) J R D Tata b) Jamsetji N Tata c) Sir Dorab Tata
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Wrong! The correct answer is Jamsetji N Tata. Jamsetji N Tata is the founder of the Tata Group. Born in a family of Parsi priests in Navsari, Gujarat, on March 3, 1839, Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata came to Mumbai (then Bombay) at the age of 14. In 1868, at age 29, he started a private trading firm with a capital of Rs 21,000. His travels in the Far East and Europe had inspired in him the desire to manufacture cotton goods. In 1877, he launched the famous Empress Mill in Nagpur. He also set up the Central Spinning, Weaving and Manufacturing Company in 1874 and the Swadeshi Mills in 1886, both in Mumbai. He also set up the Taj Hotel in Mumbai and laid the plans for India's first steel plant.
Correct! Jamsetji N Tata is the founder of the Tata Group. Born in a family of Parsi priests in Navsari, Gujarat, on March 3, 1839, Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata came to Mumbai (then Bombay) at the age of 14. In 1868, at age 29, he started a private trading firm with a capital of Rs 21,000. His travels in the Far East and Europe had inspired in him the desire to manufacture cotton goods. In 1877, he launched the famous Empress Mill in Nagpur. He also set up the Central Spinning, Weaving and Manufacturing Company in 1874 and the Swadeshi Mills in 1886, both in Mumbai. He also set up the Taj Hotel in Mumbai and laid the plans for India's first steel plant.
2. Which place was chosen to set up the Tata Iron and Steel Co? a) Chhota Nagpur b) Sakchi c) Chaibasa
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Wrong! The correct answer is Sakchi. A village called Sakchi was chosen as the site for setting up the Tata Iron and Steel Co. M/s Julian Kennedy, Sahlin and Co, of Pittsburgh, USA were appointed the construction engineers of TISCO. On January 2, 1919, Sakchi was renamed Jamshedpur.
Correct! A village called Sakchi was chosen as the site for setting up the Tata Iron and Steel Co. M/s Julian Kennedy, Sahlin and Co, of Pittsburgh, USA were appointed the construction engineers of TISCO. On January 2, 1919, Sakchi was renamed Jamshedpur.
3. When was the Taj Hotel in Mumbai built? a) November 16, 1901 b) December 16, 1903 c) December 16, 1902
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Wrong! The correct answer is December 16, 1903. Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata's dream -- The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Mumbai -- was opened on December 16, 1903. It is said to have cost £500,000 -- or Rs 25 lakh -- then. Legend has it that J N Tata was taking a foreigner to a dinner in a hotel, but was stopped at the entrance by the doorman. The reason? Only Europeans were allowed in, not Indians. That rebuff was enough to make Jamsetji decide to build a grand hotel in India.
Correct! Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata's dream -- The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Mumbai -- was opened on December 16, 1903. It is said to have cost £500,000 -- or Rs 25 lakh -- then. Legend has it that J N Tata was taking a foreigner to a dinner in a hotel, but was stopped at the entrance by the doorman. The reason? Only Europeans were allowed in, not Indians. That rebuff was enough to make Jamsetji decide to build a grand hotel in India.
4. When did J N Tata pass away? a) 1905 b) 1912 c) 1904
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Wrong! The correct answer is 1904. In 1904, three years before the site of his dream steel plant -- Sakchi -- was discovered, Jamsetji died at Bad Nauheim in Germany. His cousin R D Tata and close members of his family carried forward the work he had started.
Correct! In 1904, three years before the site of his dream steel plant -- Sakchi -- was discovered, Jamsetji died at Bad Nauheim in Germany. His cousin R D Tata and close members of his family carried forward the work he had started.
5. What is the Tatas' initiative for helping meritorious students called? a) J N Tata Endowment b) The JRD and Thelma J Tata Trust c) Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Trust
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Wrong! The correct answer is J N Tata Endowment. Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, the Tata Group founder, established the J N Tata Endowment for the Higher Education of Indians in 1892. The J N Tata Endowment has for the last 111 years helped meritorious Indian students to pursue higher studies abroad. Some of India's finest professionals and civil servants have been 'Tata Scholars'.
Correct! Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, the Tata Group founder, established the J N Tata Endowment for the Higher Education of Indians in 1892. The J N Tata Endowment has for the last 111 years helped meritorious Indian students to pursue higher studies abroad. Some of India's finest professionals and civil servants have been 'Tata Scholars'.
