J.R.D. Tata was born to an Indian father and a French mother in Paris, France, and was inspired by aviation pioneer Louis Bleriot. In 1929 Tata got the first pilot licence issued in India, and became known as the father of Indian civil aviation. He founded India's first commercial airlines, Tata Airlines, in 1932, which in 1946 became Air India.
For decades, Tata directed the Tata Group of Companies, with major interests in many industries in India, including steel, engineering and electrical companies. He was famous for succeeding in business while maintaining high ethical standards - refusing to bribe politicians or use the black market.
He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1992 for his service to commerce and industry in the country. When he passed away, the Indian Parliament was adjourned for 3 days as a mark of respect in an extremely rare gesture. J. R. D. Tata was a Zoroastrian of Parsee (Persian) descent.
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