Back in the autumn
of 1955, a 21-year-old trainee engineer joined the burgeoning
ranks of TISCO and took his first tentative steps as a member
of the Tata family. It was the beginning of a beautiful relationship.
It was also the beginning of an enduring bond that would,
with every passing season, be enriched by evolution and growth,
opportunity and experience.
Today, 50 years later, TISCO has been transformed into Tata
Steel and Syamal Gupta, that young engineer with stars in
his eyes and passion in his heart, has cause to look back
with pride and pleasure on an association that has transcended
the professional to become indelibly personal. In a world
that thrives on the transitory, he has achieved a lifetime
of permanence with the organisation he set out to serve.
It has been a remarkable journey for Mr Gupta, currently,
the only member of the Tata Sons board to complete half
a century with the Group. "There was never an occasion
when I wanted to leave, for a better salary or for greater
career opportunities. The Tatas take care of their people,"
he says. "I've always believed that short-term gain
is long-term disaster."
Mr Gupta was always more than an engineer. After his distinguished
stint at TISCO, Mr Gupta took over in 1982 as managing director
of Tata Exports (now Tata International), the trading arm
of the Tata Group, and oversaw its change from a Rs 95.71-crore
company to a Rs 1,600-crore heavyweight.
Directorships in a variety of companies, professional and
managerial honours from India and abroad, a clutch of academic
and other distinctions — Mr Gupta has received these
and more during the course of his time with the Tatas. That
he has retained the humility and humaneness that have always
characterised him speaks volumes about the man.
Earning the respect of juniors and the faith of seniors
seems to come easy to Mr Gupta. Ask him where he imbibed
the art of building strong relationships and he replies
with a gentle smile: "What good are we if we cannot
leave an indelible mark on the people we meet? The name
Tata is so powerful, it makes one's task easier."
His happiest moments in life, says Mr Gupta, have been
when his seniors reposed their trust in him and believed
in his ability to meet challenges and achieve objectives.
Today, after 50 years of meeting challenges and achieving
objectives, the time has come for Mr Gupta to sit at the
head of the table and savour the moment as we raise a toast
to him and salute this quintessential Tata man.
Milestones
Significant signposts in Syamal Gupta's academic and professional
life
- 1955: Graduated in
mechanical engineering from Jadavpur University, Kolkata
- 1956: At the age of
21, joined TISCO, Jamshedpur as designer trainee, Central
Engineering Division
- 1962: Underwent training
at Sachs, Dusseldorf to further his knowledge and sharpen
his skills in designing of rolling mills
- 1963-1965: Completed
postgraduate course in mechanical engineering from Imperial
College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London
- 1965: Came back to
TISCO as chief development engineer.
- 1970: Appointed manager,
Ring Rolling Mill, and later divisional manager.
- 1972: Deputed to Tata
Precision Industries in Singapore to set up the first
Indian manufacturing facility in that geography
- 1975: Became MD of
Tata Precision Industries.
- 1981: Completed the
Advanced Management Programme from the Harvard Business
School, Boston
- 1982-1999: Returned
to India as managing director, Tata Exports (now Tata
International). His vision and dedication helped the company
to increase its turnover manifold, acquire prestigious
global clients and venture into new geographies. In 1999,
he retired as MD and took over the chairmanship of Tata
International, a post he continues to hold
- 1984: Appointed Fellow
of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, London
- 1987: Appointed Honorary
Consul General of Zambia
- 1988: Elected Fellow
of the City & Guilds of London Institute
- 1992: Elected Foreign
Member of the Royal Academy of Engineers, London, an honour
bestowed only on one Indian scientist before him
- 1992: Appointed Honorary
Consul General of Namibia
- 1993: Elected Fellow
of The Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine,
London, the highest award the college can bestow
- 1994: Appointed director
on the board of Tata Sons
- 2002: Appointed member
of Investors' Advisory Council for Ghana by the World
Bank.
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