October 10 is birth anniversary of “Mehri’
Jamshedpur: Among the fundamental moral principles that form the bedrock of Indian culture, charity stands paramount. Throughout the annals of history spanning thousands of years, numerous individuals have left an indelible mark due to their unwavering commitment to charitable acts. In contemporary times, one such remarkable figure – Lady Meherbai Tata, through her substantial philanthropic contributions – not only played a pivotal role in safeguarding the existence of Tata Steel but also played a pivotal role in shaping the future of an Aatmanirbhar India.
Lady Meherbai continues to be a shining example of resilience and magnanimity. Her life radiates a brilliance greater than that of a diamond. Adding to her legacy is the Jubilee Diamond – one of the most valuable diamonds of its time. The Jubilee Diamond symbolised not just Sir Dorabji Tata’s love for Lady Meherbai but came to exemplify sacrifice and sense of duty.
Gifted to Lady Meherbai by her husband, Sir Dorabji, the Jubilee Diamond, which was twice the size of the Kohinoor, was willingly surrendered when duty called. Without a moment’s hesitation, she sacrificed this precious gem to ensure the well-being of communities. Such instances of selflessness are exceedingly rare, and Lady Meherbai’s life is replete with such narratives.
Perhaps it is a testament to her greatness that, following the financial crisis that followed the First World War, the Tata group never looked back. Today, it is not only the Tata family but millions worldwide who owe a debt of gratitude to Lady Meherbai for her sacrifice and unwavering dedication, which has in turn, allowed the Tata group to support and contribute to the welfare of countless individuals across the globe.
Mehri: A Woman of Substance
Lady Meherbai Tata was born on October 10, 1879, into a Parsi family to Jerbai Bhabha and HJ Bhabha, the Inspector-General of Education of the erstwhile State of Mysore. She completed her matriculation at the age of 16, after which she studied English and Latin under her father’s guidance and attended college for science classes. While upholding her proud heritage as a Parsi and an Indian, she inculcated the western liberal ideals she learnt from her father.
During one of his visits to the Bhabha household in Mysore, the Tata group founder, Jamsetji Tata, was charmed by ‘Mehri’, as she was fondly called. He felt she would be a good match for his elder son, Dorabji Tata, and advised him to meet the Bhabha family. When Dorabji visited the Bhabha family, he fell under Mehri’s spell, and they were married on February 14, 1898. When Dorabji was knighted in 1910 for his contribution to industry, she began to be addressed as Lady Meherbai Tata.
Lady Meherbai and Sir Dorabji both shared similar interests and travelled widely both in India and overseas. Lady Meherbai shared a passion for sports with Sir Dorabji, especially tennis, at which she won the Triple Crown at the Western India Tennis Tournament. Together they scored many successes in the All-India Championship. The western press reported that Lady Meherbai always wore ‘the Eastern dress, a saree’, which was not the easiest of garments to play a winning game on the courts.
Lady Meherbai was a champion for the cause of women in India as well. She was keen to see women taking charge of their own lives. Wherever she travelled, from large metropolises to the remotest of villages, she studied the quality of life of the women she encountered. She believed that the resurrection of India would only come through the advancement of the status of women, for which their education was paramount. She campaigned for higher education for women and the banning of the purdah system. She was a founder of the Bombay Presidency Women’s Council and then of the National Council of Women and introduced India into the International Council of Women. She was also consulted on the Sarda Act designed to outlaw child marriage.
She was an active member of the Red Cross Society, which she helped generously. In 1919, she was made a Commander of the British Empire by King George V. At the age of 38, Lady Meherbai made a mark on the national scene by heading a deputation to the then Viceroy to protest the treatment accorded to indentured labour of Indian origin in British colonies like the Fiji Islands.
Suffering from leukaemia during the last stages of her illness, Lady Meherbai was admitted to a nursing home in Ruthin, North Wales, and passed away on June 18, 1931. Less than a year after his wife, Sir Dorabji bequeathed most of his personal wealth, which comprised substantial shareholdings in various Tata enterprises, landed property, and his wife’s jewellery, to the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, the largest philanthropic entity in India. The Trust is best known for promoting four pioneering institutions of national importance: the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Tata Memorial Centre for Cancer Research and Treatment, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, and the National Centre for the Performing Arts.
The Jubilee Diamond: An Extraordinary Gem
The Jubilee Diamond was discovered in 1895 at Jagersfontein in South Africa. Weighing 245.35 carats and twice the size of the legendary Kohinoor, it was the sixth largest diamond in the world. The large rough stone with exceptional purity was polished in Amsterdam in 1896 and was so perfectly cut that it could be balanced on its narrow culet, which is less than 2 mm across. The diamond was first known as the Reitz Diamond in honour of President F W Reitz of the Orange Free State. In 1897, it was renamed the Jubilee Diamond to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. In 1900, it was displayed at the Paris Exposition, where it caught the attention of Sir Dorabji Tata, who bought it for approximately UK £100,000 as a gift for his wife, Lady Meherbai.
Lady Meherbai’s remarkable generosity is exemplified by her willingness to sacrifice the precious Jubilee Diamond to rescue the Tata group when it faced financial hardships. In honour of the selfless dedication of both Sir Dorabji and Lady Meherbai to industrialisation and nation-building, the Sir Dorabji Tata Park in Jamshedpur underwent a redesign in 2020. It now proudly features a statue of Lady Meherbai. Notably, a towering 34-foot “Jubilee Diamond” constructed from tubular steel sections has been installed within the park. This iconic structure serves as a poignant reminder of the couple’s selfless contributions to the growth of Tata Steel.
The Confluence of Daan Utsav and Lady Meherbai Tata
It is a remarkable coincidence that Daan Utsav aligns with the birth anniversary of Lady Meherbai in the month of October. Daan Utsav, formerly known as the ‘Joy of Giving Week,’ stands as a celebration of the spirit of generosity and benevolence. This occasion is distinguished by a multitude of acts of kindness and selflessness, where individuals and organisations unite to create a positive impact on society. Amidst the countless stories of generosity that grace Daan Utsav, the life and enduring legacy of Lady Meherbai stand out as an inspirational embodiment of altruism and sacrifice.
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