PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Dec 27: Recall the date – April 22, 2008. It was a defining moment for Tata Steel and Jamshedpur as the then Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh visited the Steel City to participate in Tata Steel’s Centenary (1907-2007) celebrations.
The former PM breathed his last at the age of 92 at AIIMS in New Delhi on Thursday night.
Tata Steel recalls the centenary function which began with the plantation of a banyan tree sapling by Dr Manmohan Singh which he later dedicated to the citizens of Jamshedpur.
Manmohan Singh’s address from his 2008 visit
In his speech, Manmohan Singh said, “This is truly a special day for all of you, for the people of Jharkhand, for the people of India and indeed, for me. Coming here in the year of Tata Steel’s centenary is a moment of great happiness for me. I stand here to pay tribute to the memory of the great founder, Jamshedji Tata and the thousands of employees and workers who have, over the past century, built this temple of modern India.”
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Speaking on Tata Steel as a symbol of a new phase in the growth of Indian Industry, he said, “Tata Steel has been a leader in steel making and it must continue to provide leadership on all fronts. I wish you all another 100 years of progress and prosperity. I am sure that for Tata Steel best is yet to come.”
The Prime Minister unveiled a postage stamp that had been created as a memento by the Government of India’s Ministry of Communication to commemorate the centenary of Tata Steel.
In his welcome address, B Muthuraman, the then managing director, Tata Steel thanked Manmohan Singh for his gracious presence in the Steel City. It was indeed a rare honour and a moment of pride for everyone at Tata Steel. Muthuraman had said “Tata Steel is as much a state of mind as it is a steel company. It is the state of mind of Tata Steel that makes it an industrial corporation with a difference.”
He went on to add that “Tata Steel has had a sustainable growth for a hundred years often through difficult and challenging times- always playing its part in helping to build the Nation, always an integral part of our society. We will continue to be so and irrespective of wherever we set foot in the world, our prime goal is to continue to serve the cause of India.”
