Quintessentially tata by Syamal Gupta

This book is a must-read for all those simply curious or actively interested to know about the Tata visionaries and the working of Bombay House, the head office of the Tata group in Mumbai, that touches lives the world over. The author’s experiences over 55 years in one of the biggest business houses in India reflects the Tata’s pioneering spirit of entrepreneurship and its culture of nation-building, led by Tata Founder Jamsetji Tata, and stalwarts like JRD Tata, Sumant Moolgaokar, Naval Tata, Nani Palkhivala and Ratan Tata, known for their humility, generosity and forward thinking. In fact, JRD’s assiduous observation of the small things or even Moolgaokar’s advise to the author to ‘Pay major attention to minor details,’ reflects the meticulous work culture prevalent within the group that emanates more out of awe and reverence than retribution. As one of the bricklayers of the Tata group, the author narrates the story of how this business enterprise spread its wings in the world. This book vividly chronicles the author’s varied work experiences, ranging from the challenges of setting up Tata Precision Industries in Singapore in the 1970s to the difficulties of widening the group’s trade horizons in Africa and around the globe. Full of personal anecdotes, this account reflects the Tatas’s philosophy of trust, its culture of innovation and the growth of the group into new geographies, products and services, by staying committed, focusing on the big picture and building relationships to surmount difficulties.