VOL. XVII, ISSUE 2, 2020

MADE in inDiA TO aCQuirE by inDia

The year 2020 marks the Diamond Jubilee of which played no small share in the development of Indian industry. The growth covers the period which marks the beginnings of national Self Suffi ciency to Made in india to acquire by india. this special issue tries to capture the concise account of this journey.

inCEpTiOn In 1932, realising the importance of transportation long before others did, J.R.D. Tata managed to persuade Sir Dorabji Tata to fi nance the Tata Airlines. With his elevation as the Chairman of Tata Sons in 1938, it was but natural for the Tatas to enter the transport industry.

The “Tatanagar Shops” - unoffi cially called the “Singhbhum Shops” - of the East Indian Railway were purchased by Tata Sons from the Government of India. On that occasion J.R.D. said: “Our object, as you know, is to undertake the manufacture of boilers in the fi rst instance, then of locomotives and eventually of engineering machinery. This transfer may, therefore, be said to constitute an important step forward in the country’s march towards industrial self-suffi ciency”.

With Tata Sons deciding to setup this project as a new company it was incorporated on September 1, 1945 and named as the “Tata Locomotive and Engineering Company Limited” by w tata locomotive and engineering Co. ltd. Share Certifi cate. a slight juxtaposition to TELCO.

in an era when india was in the process of shaking off foreign enslavement and required the wherewithal to get on the road to economic freedom, the setting up of TELCO was a beacon of hope.

arMoureD VehiCleS: Sequentially the fi rst product of the newly formed cars for the North African campaign, which they company were hulls for armoured vehicles which did utilising TISCO (now Tata Steel) Steel. They were in the process of completion. Workshop’s served the 8th army in its North African campaign in greatest claim to fame was its contribution to the World War II saving many lives, as these hulls were war eff ort of the Allied forces during the World War impenetrable by ordinary bullets. They were termed II, when it was called upon to manufacture armoured as ‘Tatanagars’ with admiration by the soldiers.

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n RAilWAyS AnD rOaDrOLLErs n COLLabOraTiOn WiTh DAiMlER bEnZ railwaYS The company entered into a technical locomotives and one hundred In the early fi fties, even as the collaboration with Krauss Maff ei of spare boilers a year. The fi rst railways were thinking of switching tatas took over the Singhbhum Munich, West Germany, as consulting locomotive - mainly reassembled over to diesel and electrical traction, Shops with the intent of engineers for the planning, from a knocked-down German TELCO was looking for a new product. manufacturing Steam Locomotives construction and equipment of the export - was despatched from TELCO It was just sort of a coincidence that for Indian Railways. This was to be locomotive shops. The Locomotive to the Western Railway, Ajmer, on Daimler-Benz A.G. of West Germany taken up in three main stages after Workshops were completed in February 22, 1952. was also looking for an outlet for signing a 16-year Agreement (1945 1952 and they were planned their products and knowhow in India to 1961) with the Railway Board. for manufacturing one hundred The indigenous content for the and other developing countries. locomotives rose from negligible in 1952 to 75% in 1954, 98% in In March 1953, the Chairman of 1961 and 99% in 1969. The last Daimler-Benz, C.P. Giese was on a component imported from the visit to India to have discussions collaborators was in 1969. Slowly, with Ashok Motors regarding a orders from Indian Railways were possible collaboration to manufacture stepped down to a level of sixty-fi ve commercial vehicles. Giese happened locomotives a year from 1961 to to meet Tatas and visited TELCO 1967. The despatch of its last steam Works at Jamshedpur. He was locomotive was on June 25, 1970 and impressed by the TELCO Works and TELCO’s share in the manufacture of was convinced that TELCO could steam locos was 1155 out of 3526, i.e. 33%.

w the Share Certifi cate of tata engineering and locomotive Co. ltd.

On September 24,1960 when the activity for production of automobiles far exceeded that pertaining to locomotives, the name of the company w Tata Mercedes-Benz trucks ready was inverted and became TATA ENGINEERING AND LOCOMOTIVE for despatch. COMPANY LIMITED giving second place to locomotives.

w First Diesel Industrial Shunter rolled out of the workshops on make use of its surplus capacity to it.” The result was a meticulous, October 27, 1962. manufacture trucks. elaborate Works Agreement which w a complete “Yg” Steam locomotive - meter gauge type. As the Indian Railways started moving settled all conceivable questions towards Diesel and Electric traction The talks dragged on for months. in forty paragraphs, right down to TELCO procured the license and the J.R.D., Sumant Moolgaokar and J.D. the smallest detail. Due to which General Engineering Division broke Choksi (Senior Legal Advisor to Tatas) the agreement was termed as a fresh ground when the fi rst Diesel went to Geneva for one more round “Technical Aid Agreement.” Tata Industrial Shunter, designed and of talks in May 1954. When the talks Locomotives was now in the truck- built by their engineers (without any were on the verge of break down, the making business with the initial foreign collaboration), rolled out of w the fi rst batch of tata Mercedes-Benz Chairman of the German company 15 year collaboration with Daimler- the Workshops on October 27, 1962. trucks 1210 were exported to turned to J.R.D. and said: “You draft Benz from April 1, 1954. By October The shunter project made steady Ceylon in 1961. the agreement and we will discuss vehicles started rolling out. progress since its inception and its quality was very high, which could be w “yG” Steam Locomotive w “yG” Steam Locomotive being gauged from the number of repeat the product bore the name of tata MerCeDeS-BenZ until June 5, 1969 when hoisted by cranes. lowered on to the wheels. orders till they ceased in 1974. the 1,78,808th vehicle was produced and further vehicles bore the name tata only. By the end of 1976, the total of Tata vehicles made in the previous seven and a half years surpassed the total of tMB vehicles made in 15 years. roaD rollerS: TELCO built up enough steam by now to move forward on its own. TELCO towarDS the end of World War II, the Government concentrated on the economic resorted to indigenisation and localisation. the eff orts paid off and fully development of India. They realised that the development of good roads and maintaining justifi ed the claim made in an early advertisement for Commercial Vehicle them was a vital necessity. Business unit (CVBu) products: “not adapted for indian conditions; designed In March 1946, a scheme was fi nalised to supply 950 steam road rollers to the for Indian conditions.” Government by M/s. Marshalls in association with TELCO. Despite numerous diffi culties, the fi rst batch of road rollers was completed on April 22, 1948. Over the next few decades, the brand that epitomised movement and progress in this country embarked on a journey of evolution and learning. Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookherjee, Minister for Industries and Supply, launched the fi rst of Imbued with the pioneering spirit and driven by the pursuit of automotive w the fi rst batch of vehicles bearing the Road Roller, the “City of Delhi”. Several other road rollers each named after a big city excellence, Tata Motors forged a reputation as one of the world’s top the “T” insignia roll out of the in India – Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, Jubbulpore, Patna – rolled past in quick succession. w road roller being assembled. automobile manufacturing company. telCo works on June 5, 1969.

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n TELCO EXCAVATORS n Expansion : The years from the 60’s to the 80’s With the slow phasing out of Apart from the earth-moving on the course of expansion with the the Locomotive Project, it was machinery and industrial shunters, setting up of a second unit in . decided that the spare capacity in the manufacture of Paper and Pulp To this end, the Company acquired the General Engineering Division machinery (digesters, chippers the Investa Machine Tool Co. Ltd. in could be fruitfully utilised for and other standard items) was Pune. In 1965, construction on the manufacture of mechanical cranes undertaken in collaboration with plant began in the Pimpri Chinchwad and excavators. A decision was Karlstad Mekaniska Werkstad of industrial area, located about 20 kms taken in 1961 to collaborate with Sweden under the trademark Tata- north of Pune. The plant at Pimpri Harnischfeger Corporation, USA. KMW. However, the Paper and Pulp extended over 376 acres of land It was for the first time in India Project was terminated owing to while the Chinchwad plant, located 3 that earth-moving machinery was recession in paper industry. kms from the Pimpri unit, measured w The Industrial Tractor pulling the being made on a regular basis. The 126 acres. The Machine Tool Division indian Air Force fighter “Gnat” machines went with the brand name Another new product line which was of the fledgling plant signed an during the Republic Day celebrations at Delhi in 1971. Tata P & H. The first model taken up established in 1967 was the 5 tonne agreement with Rheinsthal Henschel for manufacture was 955 A, 2 1/2 capacity Tata forklift, wholly designed AG of West Germany to produce cu. yd. capacity, powered by a 220 and developed within TELCO. Fitted special machine tools for use in the Along with this, more HP engine, weighing 70 tonnes and w The First Tata Hitachi Excavator, 1984. with an OM 312 automobile engine, Auto Division at Jamshedpur. significant advances were made costing Rs.17 lakhs. hydraulic lifting and tilting steering in the Jamshedpur Works. On the UH series, replacing them were The following years saw a further gear, the forklift family grew to 190 a special request from the The sales and service of the Tata the even more efficient diversification of the excavator range strong before this line of production Government, the Steel Foundry P&H Excavators were handled by EX series. Along with this was with the introduction of the KH 500 was discontinued. commenced the manufacture of Voltas up to 1976. The collaboration released the totally in-house crane and the EX series of hydraulic track links for tanks being made with Harnischfeger ended in designed and developed Tata Front machines, both in collaboration Foreseeing a boom in the automobile by the Defence Department at 1977 during which 940 machines end Wheel Loader (TWL 3036). with Hitachi. In addition, the Tata industry in an industrially awakened Avadi near Madras - over 2000 were produced, these machines Articulated Crane TAC-20 was also nation and with the blessings of w The first commercial vehicle from such track links per month were were thereafter called the Tata In 1991, the Excavator Division introduced into the market. J.R.D. Tata, Chairman, TELCO was the Pune Plant, 1977. manufactured. The Excavator excavators/cranes. came out with three new products. Division produced the third new First came the totally in-house In 1994, the Excavator Division was excavator model, the versatile Though the mechanical excavators designed and developed pick and bifurcated into the Construction had concentrated its efforts on giving 315/320 HD. were extremely popular, and sales carry articulated crane (TAG 20) Equipment Business Unit, with the the market only heavy-duty vehicles, were very brisk, TELCO decided to with capability of handling 20 tonne objective to better reflect its main moved into the medium heavy-duty The Pune plant, the same year, go in for the latest technology in metre movement which was higher business areas and to provide the range with the introduction of the turned out an Industrial Tractor excavators, with the introduction of than any other articulated crane necessary operating autonomy for 607, which in 1983 was re-designated with enough muscle to haul 100 hydraulic machines. The company being produced in India. It also the units to operate efficiently. as 807. tonnes. Essentially a towing entered into a technical collaboration rolled out the EX 200 excavator, vehicle, it found great favour with Hitachi of Japan in 1984. Soon followed by the EX 100 which gave In the late 80’s, the Indian automobile with the Indian Air Force to pull the first hydraulic excavator, the advantages of higher productivity scene was witnessing radical change. their aircraft out of the hangars. Tata-Hitachi UH 083 rolled out of the and lower fuel consumption. Approximately, 32 applications for TELCO Works. This heralded a new LCV production had been approved era in the Excavator Division as more w Group photograph at the launch of by the Government of India and most models of hydraulic excavators were in 1986. Seen in the centre with foreign collaboration. To this turn put into the market. from L to R: Nani Palkhivala, of events, Telco’s R&D wing had a Sumant Moolgaokar, J.E. Talaulicar, arun Maira and V.M. Raval. savy market answer - the 407 series Hitherto, the excavators made in of vehicles - which hit the market on collaboration with Hitachi were of TELCO spread its wings and in a February 21, 1986. Designed in-house Joint Venture with TAB Industries of and created for Indian conditions Malaysia (TATAB) set up an assembly the vehicle, besides being 100% plant for progressive manufacture of indigenous also satisfied international Tata vehicles at Pekan, Malaysia in parameters of performance. 1977. w Semi-conductor tool being examined Following the 407 in quick succession by J.R.D. Tata at the Tata Precision w The First Tata Excavator 955 A model in 1961. In 1982, the Company, which hitherto came the 707, 909 and 1510 vehicles. industries in Singapore. Also seen in the picture is Syamal Gupta. Meanwhile, the demand for vehicles was growing so By this time the TELCO name had rapidly that the management took a decision to go in spread far and wide for the quality of for a third plant, at Lucknow on March 12, 1986. It was its products, but 1973 brought with established to assemble Medium Commercial Vehicles it a different type of recognition, its (MCVs) to meet the demand in the North Indian market. technical and managerial expertise While production was proceeding apace at Pune and was sought by the Singapore w Third plant at Lucknow. Jamshedpur, in distant U.P., the Lucknow plant cut its Government to assist in the setting teeth when their first vehicle rolled out on October 20, 1992. In 1995, the unit up of Precision Industries, a started manufacturing bus chassis of Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) and Tata responsibility TELCO discharged with Sumos. The unit was also equipped with facilities to manufacture spare parts. credit.

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n libERAliSATiOn AnD ThErEafTEr

On December 9, 1990 - industrial history was writ at the brilliantly In order to improve its tata Motors continued its market area expansion decorated TELCO Stadium when the one millionth Tata vehicle was competitiveness, the organisation through the introduction of new products such as ceremoniously released. The occasion was undoubtedly a landmark. entered foreign markets, buses (Starbus and Globus, jointly developed with For TELCO had been propelled into the coveted position of being the fi rst expanding its operations to subsidiary Hispano Carrocera) and trucks (Novus, and only automobile company in the Third World to have produced one international locations as well. jointly developed with subsidiary ). million vehicles. Daewoo, South Korea’s second Some of the notable vehicles and variants that largest truck maker was acquired have been added to the portfolio of vehicles in the in 2004. The christened Tata recent years include, the ’s New Daewoo Commercial Vehicles Magna Luxury Coach in 2015, the Company launched several new Hybrid in 2017, the Xenon Yodha in 2017, the products in the Korean market, next Generation Ultra Range of Trucks in 2018 w tata Starbus hybrid w tata ultra electric Bus. while also exporting these and the most recent - the Signa 5525.S – India’s hispano Carrocera. products to several international highest GCW prime mover (tractor) in the 4x2 markets. segment and Signa 4825.TK, India’s largest tipper truck in 2020. In September 2004, Tata Motors became the fi rst company from India’s automotive sector to be w launch of tata Vehicles powered with w The millionth vehicle rolls out on listed on the New York Stock Tata-Cummins Engines, 1996. December 9, 1990. Exchange.

Further, to satisfy world standard emission levels, TELCO signed an Expecting a big growth in the bus agreement with Cummins to produce advanced diesel engines. market Tata Motors acquired a stake in the reputed Spanish bus and coach manufacturer Hispano IN 1994, a Joint Venture The Company acquired 688 acres Carrocera of Spain in 2005. agreement was signed with of land for manufacturing Special Initially it acquired a 21% stake w Tata Magna Bus w tata Signa 4825. w Tata Xenon yodha. Holset Engineering Co., UK to Purpose and Heavy vehicles and and fi nally the full ownership in Marcopolo Brazil. produce turbo chargers to be Construction Equipment with 2009. In 2006, it formed a joint fi tted on the Tata Cummins an initial investment of Rs. 425 venture with the Brazil–based engines. The year also marked crores. Marcopolo, a global leader in body a signifi cant re-organisation of building for buses and coaches tata Motors association with the Defence Research and Development prerequisites of mobility, protection the Company’s entire business The wave of liberalisation, to manufacture fully–built buses defence sector started in 1940 and Organisation (DRDO). The company and fi repower in association with focus and operations. TELCO privatisation and globalisation, and coaches for India and select continued to be of utmost priority has also developed the Light the Ordnance Factory Board. was bifurcated into two Business which started sweeping India international markets. The plant for the company. In addition to Armoured Multi-role Vehicle However, in 2018 these operations Units - the Automobile and the since the early 1990’s, gave at Dharwad was geared up to be a leading supplier of mobility (LAMV), a reconnaissance vehicle were hived off to Tata Advance Construction Equipment - with TELCO a new direction. On anchor this product. solutions to the Indian Army, Navy, that combines vital operational Systems. the objective to refl ect its main July 29, 2003 the company Air Force and various Paramilitary business areas and to provide the changed its name to Tata Motors forces, the company also exports necessary operating autonomy Limited on J.R.D.’s 99th birth its range of specialised Defence for the units to operate anniversary. vehicles to various nations. The effi ciently. company started looking towards The company created a new the Combat vehicle space by segment by launching the Tata focusing on development of Ace, India’s fi rst indigenously contemporary state-of-the-art developed mini one-tonne truck combat vehicle platforms (Tracked in 2005. It began commercial w Daewoo. & Wheeled). It is the fi rst private production of the and its sector OEM in India which has variants at the newly established Also, in 2006, the company developed WhAP (Wheeled Pantnagar, Uttarakhand plant entered into a Joint Venture with Armoured Amphibious Platform), an in 2007. With the success of Thonburi Automotive Assembly Infantry Combat Vehicle, designed the Tata Ace, the company Plant Company of Thailand to for optimised survivability, all then launched the , manufacture and market the terrain performance and increased developed on the Ace platform company’s pickup vehicles in lethality jointly with the Indian w visited the exhibition “Know Your army” at Shivaji park Mumbai, 2004. w tata aCe. and the , India’s only Thailand. maxi , in 2007. With the increasing range in In keeping with its pioneering toDaY, the company’s ever-growing vehicle portfolio are years is a deep understanding of customer needs and the products, the company felt the This was followed by two tradition, the company ushered marketed in several countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle ability to translate them into customer desired off erings need to expand its operations new additions in the Small in a new era in the Indian East, South East Asia, South Asia and South America. It through leading edge R&D. The company’s Engineering to yet another location in India. Commercial Vehicle segment with automobile industry in 2009 by has franchisee/joint venture assembly operations in Kenya, Research Centre, established in 1966, has enabled Thus, was born the Dharwad the launch of the unveiling its new range of world Bangladesh, Ukraine, Russia and Senegal. pioneering technologies and products. The company today facility, TELCOs’ fourth in 1997. and the in 2011. standard trucks – the Tata Prima has R&D centres in Pune, Jamshedpur, Lucknow, in India Daewoo. The foundation of the company’s growth over the last 75 and in South Korea, Spain and the UK.

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n WELFARE OF EMPLOYEES n Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

The topography of the TELCO “We did not have plant had become unrecognisable. to create a lake The railway workshops which the to produce a truck. Company took over were almost But we did.” entirely pulled down and the site – J.R.D. Tata was considerably extended by fetching thousands of tons of earth from long distances to enable the new Locomotive Workshops to be built on the same site. All around was wasteland and jungle and quite often the residents had their dinner chatter interrupted by the laugh of a hyena or the roar of a jungle cat which might have wandered down from the Dalma hills. In fact, panthers and cheetahs came visiting as late as in the fifties.

In 1952, the crèche was set up to help working mothers find proper care for their babies during work hours. This was followed by an open- w A view of the Locomotive Structure Shop work in progress. air theatre which enabled about 4,000 people at a time to see a In 1947, in true Tata tradition which always places a premium cinema show, which were for free. on worker benefits, 129 houses including 43 superior type ones were built for essential workers even while plans for an extensive The Company continued to housing scheme, embodying modern architectural and town contribute to the welfare of its planning concepts was on the drawing board. These quarters have employees and provide added since been renovated and modernised by the Company. recreational facilities. In 1963, the w Leela Moolgaokar during one of her visits to the Little Flower School started in a villages as part of the Tata Relief Committee work. modest way, with 400 children on roll. To cater to the arts, Sangeet A short distance from the Today, Jamshedpur boasts of a 404 TELCO (Tata Motors) is committed in letter Samaj was built. Regular fetes, Jamshedpur Works, a 25-bed bedded multispecialty hospital. and spirit to Corporate Social Responsibility. charity shows, sports meets, cinema Maternity Hospital was opened for Sustainability and the spirit of ‘giving back to shows in the Open Air Theatre kept the convenience of employees, who In Pune too, the TELCO Colony grew w Sumant Sagar lake created in 1967. society’ serves as the guiding philosophy for the colony residents happy with life would otherwise send their wives rapidly and with it social activities the Company. Under the guidance of Sumant within its environs. to the distant Tata Main Hospital. which basically reflected business Moolgaokar and Mrs. Leelatai Moolgaokar, TELCO prosperity. Thus, blood donation initiated a number of rural and urban community drives, garden competitions, development projects. In Jamshedpur, TELCO’s adventure tours (sponsored by the community development work got off to a Company), etc. were initiated and modest start in seven bustees in 1965. The initial found enthusiastic participation thrust was on health care, education and on from Telcoites. building roads to link the remote villages, which could only by approached by walking over the In line with the Group’s heritage, railway tracks. Over the years these projects and the company constantly looked at interventions have grown by leaps and bounds, encouraging sports and promoting across all plant locations, touching the lives of sporting talent. Through the years, many people. TELCO (Tata Motors) sportsmen of national and international fame The Corporate Social Responsibility projects have ensured that the company’s now focus on health, education, employability name remains in the public eye not and environment, with a special focus on the merely for its popular trucks, buses historically and socially deprived Scheduled or cars. Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities. Besides the ongoing programmes for societal The Company’s commitment to the w Economic projects have been undertaken by the and community betterment, the company various agencies operating under the guidance of welfare, safety and happiness of its and with financing from Telco. One of these is a also responds to issues on ‘need’ basis and employees continues to this day. Fisheries’ Project mainly to help those cured of Hansen’s has reached out to many lives impacted by The many practices institutionalised disease. Here a basketful of fish is made ready for the disasters like floods, plagues, earthquakes, etc. by it over the years is a testimony to market under the supervision of the project in-charge. over the years. w A view of Telco town. this fact.

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n The Right Man for the Right Job

w The first batch of technicians sent for advanced practical w R. G. Da Costa, General Manager, TELCO appreciating training in the various branches of locomotive the efforts of the employees on achieving yet another w Sumant Moolgaokar explaining the latest machinery to w L to R: Sumant Moolgaokar, J.J. Bhabha and J.R.D. Tata at manufacture to the Works of Krauss-Maffei, A.G. with whom milestone. J.R.D. Tata. telCO Pilot Plant, Jamshedpur in 1965. the Company had a Technical Aid Agreement, 1954.

J.R.D. Tata believed that one should build institutions around outstanding men, and not the other way around. He strongly believed that a far greater effort must be put into research and an opportunity given to our own scientists, engineers and chemists to prove their worth, if we need to attain technological self-reliance, essential to a self-reliant economy.

Sumant Moolgaokar who returned to India in 1929 after having studied Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College in London, w TELCO - investing in people. had difficulty in obtaining a job. He eventually accepted a post with a small cement company; initially he received no salary (though housing was generally provided). It was an unpromising beginning to a long and distinguished career. When this firm joined with nine others in 1936 to form the Associated Cement Companies, Moolgaokar entered the Tata fold. His first major achievement was designing and building India’s first entirely indigenous cement plant at Chaibasa in Bihar, in 1947. He was Executive Director of ACC when J.R.D. identified him and tried to bring him over to the newly formed Tata Locomotive and Engineering Company. J.R.D. would say to Moolgaokar, “How long are you going w Sumant Moolgaokar in the First Tata Excavator to make the glue that holds the bricks 955 A model cabin. together?” Though reluctant to part with the Engineer, Sir Homi Mody, Chairman Sumant Moolgaokar, like J.R.D. laid great of ACC, eventually gave in to J.R.D.’s emphasis on human relations and on the persistent request; Moolgaokar joined need for all round development of the TELCO in 1949. employees. According to him factories are not built by investments in buildings and On Moolgaokar completing 25 years of machinery alone. But, investment in men, in service with TELCO, J.R.D. wrote a brilliant w Letter written by J.R.D. Tata complimenting Sumant Moolgaokar on employees is more important when building mail congratulating him on the occasion. completion of 25 years of service in TELCO, dated August 1, 1974. an industry.

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n A CAR FOR THE PEOPLE

w The Tata DKW car being inspected opposite Bombay House building. w J.R.D. Tata and Ratan N. Tata at the launch of , 1992.

Tatas involvement in the and examination of the facilities of The design of the car was so up- A couple of decades later the leader, was there on July 26, 1988, TELCO launched two new passenger manufacture of cars dates back Premier by the management of to-date there was no fear of model Government sought the advice of at Pune, to launch India’s first fully vehicles - the in 1991 to 1951 when J.R.D. Tata was in M/s. Porsche and Volkswagenwerk. changes for the next decade. Mr. Moolgaokar by inviting him on indigenous pickup - the Tatamobile. and the Estate discussion with the management to the board of Maruti Udyog Ltd. The occasion also marked the known as Tata Estate in 1992. of Volkswagenwerk (Volkswagen) However, the proposals did not In 1960, Mercedes-Benz pleased as a non-executive Chairman to get golden jubilee of J.R.D. Tata as Contemporary design, elegance for manufacturing rights of their materialise. with the quality of production of the car out. Chairman of Tatas. and versatility were features of this famous “People’s Car” or the their trucks at TELCO were willing vehicle which took the automobile “Volkswagen”, as it was popularly Around the same time the partners to permit Tatas to manufacture the Years later on July 10, 1985 an On December 28, 1988, Ratan Tata, market by storm and it became a known. According to the discussions, of Telco, Daimler-Benz, had Mercedes-Benz 180 D model (the agreement was signed between took over as Chairman of TELCO fashion statement for the rich and Volkswagenwerk was ready to grant acquired a controlling interest in D.K.W.) in India. Sumant Moolgaokar, Tadashi Kume, President of after Mr. Moolgaokar stepped down. the famous. the Tatas the selling, assembly another German firm, Auto Union, the builder of Telco, told R.M. Lala and Mr. Moolgaokar for the and manufacturing rights for the reputed manufacturers for over that in 1960, “I gave keys of six manufacture of cars. A decade Mr. Moolgaokar’s years of The market for automobiles was “Volkswagen” in India, Pakistan, thirty years of the D.K.W. light car. Mercedes-Benz cars to K.B. Lal and later in 1994 a Joint Venture involvement with TELCO was best meanwhile growing exceedingly Burma and Ceylon. They promised to A new model of this car was under told him that you use these six cars agreement was signed between summed up by Bobby Kooka, the competitive and the customer provide the necessary assistance and production in Germany and the for one year and at the end of it you TELCO and Mercedes Benz AG for creator of the Air India mascot more demanding. To meet this supervision to Tatas to undertake Auto Union had agreed to license can decide whether you want to give the assembly and manufacture of – the Maharaja, when he said: requirement, early in 1992, the manufacture. Tatas were to Telco the manufacture of this car at us the permission to manufacture E Class passenger cars in India. “lf Sumant ever wrote a book, it the second assembly line was sell, assemble and manufacture Jamshedpur. This project was based it.” Moolgaokar added that one of Unfortunately, none of these would be on the love life of a turbo commissioned in Pune for special these cars through an association on an output of 12,000 vehicles these cars was used by Krishna attempts materialised. engine.” purpose vehicles. with Premier Automobiles. Further per year and also involved a capital Menon. A year later the six keys and to this agreement, Tatas would expenditure of Rs. 14 crores. The cars were delivered back to Tatas. It The year 1988 was a watershed in The launch of Tatamobile 206 The (named after also have to enter into a separate car was priced at Rs. 6,950 ex- seems there was no reply from the TELCO’s history. Early that year, in 1988 marked the Sumant Moolgaokar) was launched agreement with M/s. Porsche and factory. government. Ratan Tata was appointed Executive entry of TELCO into the passenger from Pune in 1994. In 1998, Tata Volkswagenwerk, if the military Deputy Chairman of TELCO, vehicle segment. While the 206 Safari – India’s first sports utility version of the Volkswagen was A new model of this car was brought Out of 24 applications which the indicating a clear line of succession. was intended to be a load carrying vehicle was launched. to be assembled, manufactured to India for the inspection of the government had received, the Ad Chairman Sumant Moolgaokar, who vehicle, it embodied the exterior for Defence Authorities. In such a Committee and if the Telco scheme Hoc Committee considered five was the celebrated architect of and interior finishes and handling The company’s ambition to launch case, M/s. Porsche would then act was accepted the car would start which appeared viable. But it did not TELCO’s spectacular growth was akin to that of a car. The 206 was a full-fledged passenger car was as consulting engineers to Tatas coming off the assembly line at make any specific recommendation battling with problems of health. particularly noteworthy as it was stuck in the bureaucratic tangle and Premier in the development of Jamshedpur in about fifteen to in this regard. After sometime, the However, it was in the fitness of the outcome of a totally internal since 1950’s. This was finally the motor industry in India. This eighteen months after the sanction government decided to manufacture things, Moolgaokar, who had always development programme in TELCO, accomplished with the advent of agreement was subject to the visit had been given by the Government. the car in the public sector. kept TELCO in the slot of a market with no foreign collaboration. Indica in December 1998.

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w EV 2020.

The political turmoil in the state led Tata Motors achieved, first with the Nexon EV will debut in Q4 FY2019- to violent protests at Singur owing to unveiling of the path-breaking Nano, 20. Tigor EV – the first electric the allotment of land to Tata Motors. and then by acquiring two of the vehicle developed by Tata Motors, To ensure the safety of its employees world’s most prestigious automotive especially for fleet customers and Tata Motors was forced to withdraw brands, Jaguar and . corporates – has a range of 213 km. and re-locate to Sanand in Gujarat. It has been well-received by fleets In the following years several new and the government and is now also Without doubt, Nano was the star models and variants were rolled out available for purchase by individual w Ratan N. Tata speaking at the launch of the first Indica in 1998. of the Tata stable in 2007-08. by Tata Motors. Currently, Nexon EV customers. Time magazine acknowledged this is the first Indian car with the Global Indica was Ratan Tata’s dream and The Indica was followed in quick 2004. By 2005, the company was achievement by including the Nano NCAP (Global New Car Assessment Next on the cards is Altroz EV. Tata is he wanted a car with the space succession by the launch of the successful in rolling out its 5,00,000 in a list of the “The dozen most Programme) 5 star rating for safety. equipping the with ABS, of an Ambassador, the size of a Indica V2 in 2001 and the Tata passenger vehicle. important cars of all time starting Nexon EV uses an advanced, safe dual front airbags, ISOFIX mounts, Maruti Zen, economy of diesel and Indigo (“India on the Go”) in 2002. from 1908 to the present”, along with lithium ion battery pack, which has rear parking sensors, seatbelt at the price close to Maruti 800. With these successes, the company legendary cars like the Ford Model T, been rigorously tested for Indian reminder and high-speed warning “This project is attributed to me TELCO, which was renamed as Tata aimed at bringing out a car which the Volkswagen Beetle, Chevy Belair, conditions. Besides, the battery as standard. Tata has nailed the emotionally,” said Ratan Tata and Motors in 2003 launched the City could be affordable by the common Toyota Corolla, the Mini and the pack is water and dustproof and safety game as the Altroz has scored added: “Not so. It is just that I Rover – Indicas fashioned for the man at a price tag of around one lakh . has a robustly designed casing a prestigious 5 star Global NCAP had a strong conviction that our European market. The first batch of rupees. to withstand impact. Nexon EVs crash-test rating. engineers, who would put a rocket of City Rovers rolled out from It is hard to think of any company come with an 8-year warranty on into space, could produce our the Tata Motors stables in 2003, Tata’s foray into West Bengal ran into and not just in the Tata firmament, the battery and motor to provide Contemporary design, elegance own car. And when we took up the quickly followed by Indica Marina in rough weather for no fault of theirs. surpassing the double distinction that absolute peace of mind to customers. and versatility are features of each challenge, we went out and got of these vehicles which have taken expertise wherever it was necessary. the automobile market by storm and Everything we had in it was ours. have become a fashion statement for So to me it was a great feeling of the rich and the famous. national achievement.” Conclusion The Indica – “India’s Car”, captured the imagination of the nation. Prior The story of Tata Motors will to this, no other car in India could continue. Several new glorious lay claim to being indigenously chapters will perforce be added designed and manufactured. The from time to time. With its inherent Indica catapulted India into an strengths of technology and human elite group of just 10 nations that resources painstakingly built up have manufactured their own car. over the years the Company is well It wasn’t long before the Indica poised to meet the challenges of firmly established itself as the the 21st century and ensure that the people’s favourite. In 2001, the movement called Tata Motors grows Indica became the fastest-selling from strength to strength. automobile in Indian history when it chalked up sales of 100,000 in less Rajendra Prasad Narla than 18 months. w 2009. w 2020. Archivist, Tata Central Archives

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EXCERPTS FROM THE ORAL HISTORY SESSION WITH RAM HUDLIKAR Tata Central Archives (TCA) conducts Oral History sessions of various Tata personalities. Presented herewith are excerpts from the Oral History session with Ram Hudlikar, Former Manager Administration, Tata Motors.

TCA: Can you tell us about your the sub-editor of Telco Parivar experience on the first day you and was with the magazine for 10 joined Tata Motors? years. The magazine had won many RH: I am a second-generation Tata awards. Later, I moved on to the employee. My first day is etched in my Sports department and then Public memory. I was made to go through Relations. In all, I had put in 32 years some final tests and just before you of service with the company. know, checking in, I was told – “Now that you have finished all these tests, TCA: What was your role like while etc., and it’s almost lunchtime go and you were handling Public Relations, have lunch.” I said, “Okay, where do visitors’ section? Any anecdotes we have lunch?” The person looked that you remember and would like to at me and told me - “At the canteen share with us? of course.” So, I went in the direction RH: I was mainly in charge of that I was shown. I came to a main welcoming visitors (the information road and there was one kilometre of part), taking them round the plant, w Mrs. Leela Moolgaokar at the 100th Blood Donation by S.S. Dalvi at St. George Hospital, Mumbai. road and trees you know, on either w Ram Hudlikar with Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. telling them about the same, etc. side, not a person in sight, because Visitors would include school children TCA: We have heard a lot on anniversary every year. She was the discomfort, did not show it even once. it was not shift time for any lunch or In fact, we realised that there was so to special dignitaries. Yeah, there was the affections showered on the inspiration behind this effort. In fact, he obliged all. anything like that. And who do I ask much talent within the company. A this visit by the British delegation employees by the Moolgaokars. Can Mrs. Moolgaokar was closely now? Where do I go? I continued large number of our employees and led by Prince Andrew. He was you share some anecdote with us associated with the Red Cross TCA: Any other story that you would to walk looking at the trees and the their children have proved themselves accompanied by Vicki Treadell who on this? Society. She valued every drop of like to share? birds, etc., and then finally I smelt as very good actors. To cite a few was then Deputy High Commissioner RH: Yes. They were big hearted blood and knew its importance in a RH: Sure. This incident will tell you the food and realised I was close examples - The lead actress of the in Bombay. Subsequently, she and gelled with the employees crisis situation. Hence, she worked how a product has a deep impact on to the canteen. When I entered the famous play Ghashiram Kotwal also bought a Nano! So, after we as a family. There was this boy towards founding the Blood Bank the life of an individual. This was the canteen, I asked somebody just out was Swaroop Khopkhar who was exchanged pleasantries, we had this called Gowda who worked at their at St. George’s Hospital. Earlier, time of the formative days when the of curiosity as to how much food our employee. She won the Golden tradition of giving out caps with our bungalow in Lonavala as a gardener whenever a person donated his idea to launch a mini pickup vehicle they cooked. They said for 25,000 Bear Award for the Best Actress. logo on it to every visitor. This to and doing sundry odd jobs. Once, blood, he was given a half day to compete with the unstable three people per day. So that was the time There was Arun Apte also whom I keep them protected from the heat when he was called over, they found paid leave with an aim to give him wheeler rickshaw pickup. when I realised the enormity of the had interviewed. He has left now. and their hair intact. When I asked him very fidgety, dropping things some rest and feel better. However, company that I had joined. This was He became a singer. There was a Prince Andrew, if he would like one, down and not paying any attention with the passing of time this rule Mr. Ravi Kant was the CMD then. So, Pune. This was just one factory. Okay, Marathi serial by the name of Swami. he had said that he would take one, to what they were speaking. He was was abolished as they found the they actually started by surveying there was Jamshedpur, Lucknow, etc. The title song was sung by him. but would be happier still to wear asked by Mr. Moolgaokar as to why rebuilding of blood to be a natural on ground the reactions of drivers They made over a lakh of chapatis Then there was Ramesh Bhatkar the crown instead. This led to a lot of he was so inattentive. He said that process and required only a few and others. They would go to the and over a lakh of vadas and idlis who was a leading Television actor. laughter. Most of these high-profile he did not enjoy the work he was hours for the same. dhabbas (small eat outs on the road), and 7000 to 8000 litres of milk were Subsequently, I went on to become visits were well orchestrated. doing in the bungalow. On enquiring octroi points, etc. and ask the drivers used every day! In 1986, I had to pay about his education levels, he said TCA: Any interactions with questions like – “kya yeh jo aisa three- five rupees a month - this included that he had studied up to SSC. Mr. Ratan Tata? wheeler aap ko diktha hai, tho iske a morning tea and snacks, one meal Mr. Moolgaokar told him to RH. Yes. During one of his visits to badle mein hum char wheeler layainge and an afternoon tea to get rid of the accompany him next day to the the Pune unit, I accompanied him to tho kaisa chalega?” In one such effects of your meal. Nowadays they Plant. He told him to go around the Conference Room and saw that incident one driver who was owning don’t pay. the Plant and check for himself he was comfortable. Having travelled, a three-wheeler actually pleaded with what work he could do. He was so much, I asked him if he would like the staff to get out a four-wheeler TCA: Take us through your career directly put into employment in the to have something to eat. He then soon as his lady love was refusing to graph in the company? Production Engineering Division, said that he would be happy if he get married to him because she did RH: Initially, I was hired as an where over the years he qualified could get a glass of water. He was so not want to get married to a rickshaw assistant to the editor of the in- himself to becoming an electrician. humble. I distinctly remember the day driver. The vehicle he owned was a house magazine of Tata Motors of his retirement when he turned 75 three-wheeler rickshaw. He pleaded called “TELCO Parivar.” In a sense TCA: One has heard about the years. He decided to have his lunch saying kindly make a four-wheeler this was truly an in-house magazine famous Blood Donation campaigns with the workers in their canteen. pickup van because then she will because it was meant for the people, that were being regularly held on He was flanked on both sides by the consider me as a truck owner and irrespective of your rank or position the factory campus. Can you throw Union and its members. Everyone get married to me! The Ace did come in the company. It covered stories, some light on this? wanted to sit next to him which was on to the roads much earlier than its interviews, etc. of all employees RH: Blood donation campaigns are impossible. So, they started clicking stipulated time and was a big hit. across the gamut and included the w Ram Hudlikar explaining the layout of the Pune Plant to Anil Kapoor during his still being held regularly on photos with him by standing behind Directors to blue collared workmen. visit to the Plant as part of the promotion of the TV series 24, featuring the . Mrs. Leela Moolgaokar’s birth him! Mr. Tata, although put to a lot of Edited by Shobha Ramesh

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There was so much that we Remembering Sumant Moolgaokar learnt from him. His reputation in industry was built on his genius as A tribute to a great technocrat and a wonderful human being a technocrat, but we who came in By Ms. KHORSHED R. Javeri (Ex TAS) contact with him in other ways could not help but admire his immense I was Assistant Company Secretary managerial and administrative in Tata Steel when Mr. Sumant qualities. He worked by a special Moolgaokar entered our horizon as system under which the several Vice Chairman. His reputation and persons dealing with important standing were well known in Bombay matters would all meet him at an House - the Tata headquarters. He appointed time every week. Each was the undisputed head of TELCO person had to report on his subject (now Tata Motors), highly respected in a timespan of a few minutes. He and feared (he was known not to could, at the most, take the help suffer fools kindly). His strikingly of a half-page note to assist him good looks, tall, grey, blue eyes and in doing so. Can one imagine the serious mien did nothing to diminish training this imparted? Teaching the that impression. We learnt that he verbose to limit their speech and had been inducted into TISCO (now write the bare essentials! And yet we Tata Steel) to give much needed realised he was quick to appreciate technical guidance to the Head Office. a good turn of phrase, and I felt he was mentally assessing our skills in His entry in the Company coincided this direction. Once, while reporting with a time when I was at the one matter, I said, “this man is a crossroads of my career. The compulsive litigant”. He stopped me, Company Secretary had retired “what’s that, I have never heard that a few months earlier. I had been phrase before!”, and laughed for a full Assistant Secretary for several years minute. and had taken over his work after his retirement. The next step in any When he was to address the Annual organisation would have been to General Meeting of TELCO as appoint me as Secretary. At that time, Chairman for the first time when Mr. TISCO went by its own traditions and J.R.D. Tata stepped down, he asked rules. I was considered too young - in me if I would write for him something fact I was in my thirties, old enough he could say on the occasion. His even by the standards prevailing then request was made in a manner typical to be on the Board of a Company. I of him, “You write so well” he said, had to experience the humiliation of “give me something I should say at seeing strangers sitting in the waiting this time”. I wrote something I felt room outside a Director’s office, suited his personality. I went to the waiting to be interviewed for the post w Sumant Moolgaokar. meeting as I wanted to hear him. He w Leela and Sumant Moolgaokar. of Secretary. did not change a single word. Later, I poured out what was uppermost in a little embarrassed at the end. He when I started writing regularly - my Medical Scheme was introduced in crime? We all knew him to be quite After anguishing over the situation, my mind - the humiliation of seeing did not say anything, but he looked monthly column in the Economic TELCO, much ahead of most other harmless, a middle aged single Parsi I came to the conclusion that help persons interviewed for the post visibly upset. Then he said what will Times, my several books on law, and companies. He must have applied who lived with his widowed mother. could best come from someone which should have been mine. I was always remain etched in my memory, short stories, and even today my this simple test to TISCO matters I then recalled his telling me that he outside the narrow set-up of and which I later realised was articles - his words of praise ring in also, because whenever I took him loved writing; he had even shown me the Office, and so I sought an characteristic of his personality: “I my ears, “You write so well”. He had some proposal for benefits to staff, some articles he had written. They appointment with Mr. Moolgaokar, don’t like it. I don’t like it at all. Leave seen a spark in those soulless pink his reaction was “But of course, is were about freedom, and liberty, and which he readily gave. I had never it to me. I will see what I can do”. Notes of mine that I had occasionally there any reason why we shouldn’t he hoped to publish them some day. seen him at close quarters. I had The candidates for interview stopped put up on office matters! have this?” What a wonderful world The efforts of a lonely man trying to imagined a stern looking person. The coming immediately, and a few days it would be if all corporate heads felt pass his time. This was the reason face that looked at me was calm. He later an Office Order was passed So much else about him was and thought like him! for his detention! A conference was had obviously set aside his work to appointing me Company Secretary. admirable. His belief, and practise held as to what we should do to get see me. “You wanted to see me?” he of it, that employees must be given An incident in TISCO, during the him out. It was agreed that I should asked as I entered. I had rehearsed Over the years that he was Vice- the best that the organisation could Emergency, in which he played a vital request Mr. Moolgaokar to speak what I would say to him - how I Chairman of TISCO, and I was afford. TELCO employees in Bombay role illustrates his human side. One to the Chief Minister on his behalf. had worked for so many years as Company Secretary, my respect and House were the envy of employees morning, we learnt that one of my I spoke to Mr. Moolgaokar. He did Assistant Secretary and then done all admiration for him grew, and though of other companies. Their salaries Assistants had been picked up by not seem to think it at all strange the work of the previous Secretary - he never said it, I felt he thought well were higher than their counterparts the police from the railway station that I should have done so. His only all the relevant facts. of my abilities and respected me. in other companies. Several of the while on his way home and was taken question was, “You know this man I always did my best to ensure he Company’s Officers were provided straight to jail and locked up. There well and can vouch for him?”. On I did not equip myself well. The retained that impression and never flats in a very well - appointed was consternation in the Office that assuring him that I did, his response rehearsed speech was forgotten; and w Ms. Khorshed R. Javeri. tried to take advantage of it. society. A comprehensive Annual morning. What could have been his was typical, “Let me see what I can

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do. Perhaps Mr. Palkhivala and I traffic island with the signboard will both go and meet someone in - Sumant Moolgaokar Chowk. the government”. These two great Mr. Moolgaokar lived a few yards men - so unlike each other, shared away from here. I am reminded of a great bond. At the time of the him every time I pass by. I need incident I mention they were both no reminder of him. But perhaps Vice Chairmen of TISCO. They met in this world where the small are ‘the right person’. My assistant was remembered and the great are often released a few days later on giving forgotten, some child being dropped an undertaking that he would not by his father in the prestigious infant engage in ‘anti-national activities’. school close by may ask him “who was Mr. Sumant Moolgaokar dad?”. After I left TISCO I did not maintain And the father may reply, “Oh let contact with him. My energies were me think. Yes, if I recall he was the spent in simultaneously trying to w The plaque of the Sumant Moolgaokar man who built TELCO, a well-known build up my legal practice and writing Chowk on B.G. Kher Marg, Mumbai. company that we now call Tata my books on law. I was also on the Motors. He lived close by”. Others Board of several companies including I would always associate TELCO with wishing to learn about him may turn Citibank, and all this took up my him, whether he was its Chairman to the several avenues available time. However, I kept track of the or not. His reply was equally warm, today - chief among them Google. developments in Bombay House. especially coming from a reticent And their search may lead them person like him. He said something to visit the monuments dedicated I wrote to Mr. Moolgaokar when I to the effect “the beautiful words in to his technological genius - the heard that he was stepping down as which you have chosen to express TELCO factories in Jamshedpur and Chairman of TELCO. Knowing his love yourself have touched me deeply”. My Poona. Those who knew him - old - for that company I could understand greatest regret today is that I cannot timers of TELCO and others like me, the emotional turmoil he must have find this letter which I thought I had will reminisce about his wonderful been experiencing at that point in preserved very carefully. qualities of head and heart whenever time. A fond father parting with his the occasion arises, or write about only child! In my letter I tried to In one of the few still beautiful areas him as I do today. express the great respect and regard of Bombay Hanging Gardens - where I had always felt for him. I said that I am fortunate to live, is a small And so, the Legend will live on.

w Sumant Moolgaokar was an avid photographer.

Edited and Published by Tata Central Archives, A Division of Tata Services Ltd, 1 Mangaldas Road, Pune - 411001. Phone +91-20-66092014 | Email : [email protected] | Website : www.tatacentralarchives.com Printed by : Bhalchandra Printing Press Pvt Ltd.

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