Ratan Tata Trust

Sir Ratan Tata Trust

Sir Ratan Tata Trust is one of the oldest Philanthropic institutions in India and has played a pioneering role in changing the traditional ideas of charity and inducing the concept of Philanthropy.

The founder of the Tata Empire, Jamsetji Tata, was a true nationalist who foresaw the significance of the industrial revolution for India. He had a desire to catapult India to a place amongst the leading industrial nations of the world. Sir Ratan Tata, the younger of his two sons, was born on 20th January 1871. He was educated at St. Xavier's College in Bombay.

Sir Ratan was extremely kind hearted and generous, always willing to lend a helping hand to any individual or institution in distress. He had a true Indian outlook with a nationalistic fervour; on the other hand, he also possessed a balanced, broad-minded mental viewpoint.

Serious charity meant making the effort to identify a cause one deeply cared about, and then devoting time as well as effort and money. In his short, but satisfying lifetime, Sir Ratan had identified several issues, which bear testimony to his munificence. A glance at the donations and endowments made by him during his lifetime, typifies his concern for various deserving causes, and is an insightful antecedent to the Trust's present day grant-bestowing policy.

Servants of India Society -

The founding of this brotherhood in Poona, on June 12, 1905, was the outcome of Gopal Krishna Gokhale's conviction that if the masses were to be liberated to function as active members of free India, they must have a band of selfless and intelligent workers, who would dedicate their lives to the service of the nation.

Sir Ratan was a personal friend of Gokhale, and upon the latter's request, gave the society an annual amount of Rs10,000 for a period of ten years, for its welfare work for the weaker sections of the society. This instance of Sir Ratan's largesse was a precursor to the present grant bestowing policy of the Trust, concerning the issue at hand, and the manner in which the same can be effectively addressed.

Mahatma Gandhi and South Africa -

During his days as a practising barrister in Transvaal, South Africa, Mahatma Gandhi headed a non co-operation movement, protesting against the plight of Asians, and particularly Indians, under the prevailing regime. The movement had run into rough weather with the authorities, leading to persecution of the Indian community.

Monetary aid was the need of the hour and Sir Ratan responded generously to a plea from Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Between 1909 and 1913, a sum of Rs1.25 lakhs was disbursed by him, in instalments, enabling the Mahatma to continue his fight for the rights of Indians in South Africa.

Overwhelmed by the magnanimity of one such instalment made by Sir Ratan, the Mahatma wrote, "That India has been roused is evident from the generous gift of Mr Ratanji Jamshedji Tata. By his big donation of Rs25,000 he has given a powerful impetus to our movement. He will probably be followed by other Indians. Parsis are known the world over for their generous gifts. Mr Tata has been true to that spirit of generosity."

Sir Ratan Tata Foundation at the London School of Economics & Political Science

In 1912, Sir Ratan made an offer of financial help to the University of London, if they would be willing to institute a Chair in the University, for investigation and research into causes of destitution and poverty, and for suggestions for relief. Principal Sir William Miera prepared a scheme in conjunction with Professor LT Hobhouse and Professor Urwick, which was approved by Sir Ratan, and a Chair was founded in 1913.

Sir Ratan agreed to pay £1,400 annually for a period of three years, toward the expenses of the Foundation. This annual grant of £1,400 was extended for a period of five years from 1916. After his demise in 1919, the Trustees of Sir Ratan Tata Trust continued this annual grant until 1931.

During those nineteen years, several scholars and students of the University of London and the London School of Economics, carried out research work on the conditions of labour in different trades, and published their research in different publications. The Sir Ratan Tata Foundation is now a permanent institution at the London School of Economics.