IISc, TIFR, TISS, TMC, NCPA - Tata campuses that are jewels of India!

If we were to answer who is the most high-powered, world’s greatest philanthropist of the last century, our answer would be Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, who had donated USD 102 billion as per a report. But the most fundamental question is, ‘Why has TATA associated itself with the top-notch Indian institutions that possess a legacy of excellence?’

The famed five - Indian Institute of Science (IISc, founded in 1909), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR, founded in 1945), Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS, founded in 1936), Tata Memorial Centre (TMC, commissioned in 1941), and National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA, inaugurated in 1976) were established with the support of Dorabji Tata Trust put in place by Jamsetji Tata. Many distinguished and notable people of India such as C.V. Raman, Brahm Prakash, Vikram Sarabhai, Vivek Borkar, and G.N. Ramachandran was also associated with one or more of these institutions.

These institutions, known as the ‘Famed Five’ are sought after and all the rage because they have outlived their founders. Not only this, but they have also found new ways of sustaining excellence, of evolving themselves and growing stronger which has attracted and retained leading talents of this country.

TATA campuses: A perfect blend of invention and innovation

One major feature that draws a line between the Tata institutions and others is their visionary campuses which continue to inspire young minds and leave a lasting impact even a century after they were built. These campuses exude the vision of their founding figures and ooze a sense of passion and intensity to bring academic excellence to its fruition. The institutions have courses to offer in every domain be it computer science, mathematics, medicine, or performing arts.

The subjects are not at all molded in a rigid academic culture. Rather, by recognizing interconnections, institutions offer the scope of interdisciplinary thinking and the chance to learn various subjects in an open and permissible way.

Staying ahead of time is Tata’s way of thinking

Money alone can never buy greatness. Instead, wise decisions coupled with money have to be employed wisely to create these great institutions. J.N. Tata and later J.R.D. Tata both had the vision to create something magnificent. For instance, during Dhawan’s days, IISc stepped into new fields of research that were avant-gardes such as the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, and promotion of social values and impact of science via the Cell for Application of Science and Technology to Rural Areas (ASTRA).

TIFR pulled Narendra Karmarkar towards itself, who was responsible for inventing the polynomial-time algorithm for linear programming (Computer Science) despite their number and string theory biases. In the same breath, TISS also began pivotal programs such as Disaster Management. Not only this, but the NCPA also started its iconic and magnificent experimental theatre.

J.N. Tata, an unforgettable hero

It is evident how beautifully these institutions and academies of excellence caught the phrase - staying ahead of the curve. Besides an exceptional and monumental vision, this also mandates a clever breadth of view and an open mind on the part of the key players.

J.N. Tata had an uncanny acumen and knew the art of spotting opportunities much before his rivals or friends could. His imagination and insight went beyond the limits. He established the majestic and colossal Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai in 1903 after he was denied entrance into a hotel only because he was an Indian. J.N. Tata also founded the Tata Iron and Steel Company (TISCO), now Tata Steel, in Jamshedpur in 1907. The list is endless. His scientific temperament and revolutionary thinking have made India proud, and we all bow down in honor of him.

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