Tata had ‘Make in India’ vision four decades ago

After getting inducted into TATA Sons, Ratan Tataji’s first responsibility was NELCO- a company that manufactured radio sets. I had just joined NELCO back in March 1981. The company was just recovering from an 8-month closure due to a workers’ strike. At such a critical time, the company was handed over to Ratan Tata. Very soon a gate meeting by Dr. Datta Samant was announced and the danger of closure loomed over the factory. On the same day when the meeting was scheduled, a close associate of Ratan Tata came to the shop floor and stood on a cranky table appealing to all the workers & officers to gather. He gave a superb speech, stating how Ratan Tata Saheb treats the company as his family & how each one of us have a great respect for him as a family head, and that we would render him our unconditional, wholehearted support in pulling out our company from the crisis. This had a very positive impact and the gate meeting turned out to be a flop show. All this because of the very good quality of Ratan Saheb of dealing with all officials from top officials to the workers with grace & humanity, imparting a high level of motivation.

The same year on NELCO day he delivered a speech about his future plans for the company. I clearly remember him saying- This can become a state-of-the-art electronics gadgets manufacturing company & can be named as TATA Electronics Company. He said, “There will be a second TELCO in that case”.

I had seen many blind workers working on the assembly line manufacturing radio sets in NELCO. It was so thought provoking for me. He was a businessman with a difference. Earning profit was not the only motive. His gesture of contributing a great deal to humanity, uplifting or supporting life of the downtrodden, handicapped and the likes was exceptional. What a noble philosophy indeed! This had and continues to generate unprecedented loyalty to the brand name TATA from workers to consumers and masses.

Occasionally Ratan Saheb used to visit the shop floor of NELCO. In those days the company was manufacturing over 25,000 radio sets in a month. He would visit the assembly line and talk to the assembly workers, and managers of other disciplines like production, materials, R&D to understand their grievances. This would enhance the sense of belonging. I was fortunate enough to witness such visits of Ratan Saheb and having a close glimpse of him. I used to wonder how he was so involved in understanding the manufacturing problems at the micro level.

During all his visits his attire used to be quite modest. I always saw him in white full shirt. He would always be polite, never raised his voice and never complained about how hot and humid conditions prevailed on the shop floor. His broad, affirmative and convincing voice with absolute clarity of thoughts would establish a direct connection with the employees.

He had the vision of ‘Make in India’ four decades ago. Everything in house - all the allied processes related to radio manufacturing, hot foiling of radio front panel, printed circuit board manufacturing can be easily outsourced, which is the present trend. Ratan saheb ensured that everything was made in the NELCO factory.

NELCO, in spite of having enough space, R&D and manpower to have mass production of TV sets, it was the era of license raj and licenses were issued only to small scale industries, as per the then prevailing industrial policy. How disappointing and frustrating it must have got for ambitious industrialists like Ratan Tata! However, instead of running away from the scene, he found a solution. Vendors were developed with due licenses to manufacture TVs and NELCO’s first colour TV “Chroma Delux” was rolled out. Our entire team under the leadership of Nabar was busy streamlining the manufacturing line. After few days of working tirelessly, I still feel proud to recall how everybody strived to make the first perfectly working set of “Chroma Delux” that was to be sent to Ratan Tata’s home. If we compare today’s TV set “Chroma Delux” was quite a primitive version. Still like all of us Ratan Tata was extremely eager to see the new baby.

Life takes you back to the ideologies and inspiring people you met in life during the initial stage of your career. I left NELCO soon. Later after ten years, I met Nabar once again by coincidence. Today I am a vice President with an Indian company promoted by Nabar called Ikebana electronics Pvt Limited. The company produces heat shrinkable products. I am in-charge of Indian operations and export to neighboring countries & design & type testing of Ikebana products. Ratan Tata’s ideals and his aura will always remain a source of inspiration for me in my journey ahead. 

(The writer is BTech (BHU) and a former employee of NELCO, headed by late Ratan Tata)