The Tata Group is a private business conglomerate headquartered in Mumbai. Part of this group is the ‘TISCO’ company. At one time the situation of Tata Steel Company had deteriorated considerably. Yes, this company was financially poor. In such a situation, a woman pulled this company out of financial trouble. Let us know who was that woman and in what way, she pulled the Tata Steel Company out of the era of financial troubles.
Let us tell you that this is the story of Lady Meherbai Tata. Due to which Tata Steel Company has got recognition today. Most people may not know this woman, who is widely considered to be one of the first Indian feminist icons. It is known that Lady Meherbai Tata is known for everything from the abolition of child marriage to women’s suffrage and from the education of girls to the removal of the purdah system. But not only this but she is also known for his contribution to saving the country’s largest steel company, Tata Steel.
Harish Bhatt in his book Tata Stories tells how ‘Lady Meherbai Tata’ saved the steel giant. Jamsetji Tata’s eldest son Sir Dorabji Tata bought a 245.35 carat Jubilee diamond, which is twice as big as the Kohinoor (105.6 carats, cut), from merchants in London for his wife Lady Meherbai. In the 1900s it cost around £100,000. This priceless necklace was so special to Lady Meherbai that she kept it to wear on special occasions. But the situation took such a turn in the year 1924 that Lady Meherbai decided to sell it.
Something happened that at that time there was a cash crunch in front of Tata Steel and there was no money left to pay salaries to the employees of the company. At that time, it was more appropriate for Lady Meherbai to save the company’s employees and the company, and she mortgaged her entire personal assets including the Jubilee Diamond to the Imperial Bank so that she could raise funds for Tata Steel.
After a long time, the company started giving returns and the situation improved. Harish Bhatt explains in his book that in those times of intense struggle not a single worker was laid off and this was made possible because of it. That was the lady.
Know what kind of lady Meherbai Tata was?
According to the Tata Group, the Jubilee Diamond was sold after the death of Sir Dorabji Tata to establish the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust. Lady Meherbai Tata was one of those who were consulted for the Saradha Act or the Child Marriage Prohibition Act passed in 1929. She actively campaigned for it in India as well as abroad. She was also a part of the National Council for Women and the All India Women’s Conference. On November 29, 1927, Lady Meherbai made a case for the Hindu Marriage Bill in Michigan.
Meherbai was the first Indian woman to play tennis in the Olympics.
Meherbai, fond of playing tennis, won more than sixty awards in tennis tournaments. She was the first Indian woman to play Olympic tennis. The most interesting and unique thing is that she played all her tennis matches wearing a Parsi saree. Please tell that Meherbai, who was interested in the game, was also a skilled pianist.
The first Indian woman to board a Zeppelin airship…
Her husband and she were often seen watching a tennis match at Wimbledon’s center court. Not only tennis, but she was also an excellent equestrian and was also the first Indian woman to board a Zeppelin airship in 1912.
