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|Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata popularly known as JRD Tata was one of the most enterprising Indian entrepreneurs. He was a pioneer |
|aviator and built one of the largest industrial houses of India. He had the honour of being India's first pilot, he was Chairman of |
|Tata & Sons for 50 years and launched Air India International as India's first international airline. He was awarded India's highest |
|civilian award, the Bharat Ratna in 1992. |
[pic]Early life and education
J.R.D. Tata was born in Paris, France, the second child of Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata (Parsi) and his French wife, Suzanne "Sooni" Brière. J.R.D. was an interesting product of two continents. He was educated in France, Japan and England before being drafted into the French army and assigned to a regiment in France called Le Saphis for a mandatory one-year period. JRD wanted to extend his service in the forces but destiny had something else in store for him. By leaving the French army JRD's life was saved because shortly thereafter, the regiment in which he served was totally wiped out during an expedition in Morocco.At the end of his time there, he expected to go on to Cambridge where a place was reserved for him. But his father summoned him back to India to join the Tatas.
As his mother was French, he spent much of his childhood in France and as a result, French was his first language. Tata also attended the French Foreign Legion. He attended the Cathedral and John Connon School, Mumbai. He did not continue beyond matriculation as mentioned in his biography. It was to rankle with him for decades that he never went to a