JRD Tata birth anniversary: Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy is one of the pioneers of industry in India. The French-born Indian reshaped Indian aviation and industrial space. He was the first licenced pilot in India and an able entrepreneur and responsible for the inception of Air India in 1932. JRD Tata was born on July 29, 1904, to Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata and Suzanne Briere and was responsible for scaling the Tata Group to new heights. 

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He received French Legion of Honour in 1983 and highest civilian awards Padma Vibhushan and Bharat Ratna. JRD Tata was responsible for the ascendancy of companies like Tata Consultancy Service, Titan Industries, Tata Salt, Voltas and Air India, according to ET Now.  

JRD Tata was the second child of businessman Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata and died at the age of 89 on 29 November 1993. Till 1935, he held the French citizenship. However, from 1936 till his death, he was a citizen of India. 

JRD Tata became chairman of Tata Sons at the age of 34 and led the Group from USD 100 million to over USD 5 billion. 

His interest in social causes and philanthropy was  also much praised. Tata Trust established Asia's first cancer hospital Tata Memorial Centre for Cancer, Research and Treatment, in Bombay in 1941 under his leadership. His contribution does not end here, he also founded Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in 1936.

Besides these two known institues, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR, 1945), and the National Center for Performing Arts are also the contribution of JRD Tata.