Milestones: A legacy of caring
1892
Jamsetji Tata sets up the JN Tata Endowment for the Higher Education of Indians. The first of the Tata Trusts, the Endowment's mandate has remained unchanged: the higher education of the best and brightest of Indians.
1905
Jamsetji Tata's younger son, Ratan Tata, contributes to the Servants of India Society founded by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, a social and political reformer. In 1910, he donated a significant sum to help Mahatma Gandhi in his struggle against apartheid in South Africa.
1911
The Indian Institute of Science is established in Bangalore to serve as a centre for advanced learning. Jamsetji Tata had been a leading figure in the quest to create the institute, which was finally set up through contributions from the Tatas, the government and the principality of Mysore.
1919
A year after his death, the Sir Ratan Tata Trust is established in accordance with his will. Ratan Tata was a varied philanthropist, contributing towards research at the London School of Economics, funding archaeological excavations and bequeathing his treasure trove of art to the Prince of Wales Museum in Bombay.
1932
Dorab Tata passes away, leaving behind his fortune to the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust. This was, and remains, the biggest of the Tata Trusts. In 1931, Dorab Tata had set up the Lady Tata Memorial Trust in memory of his deceased wife. He also established the Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Trust.
1936-1966
During this period, the Tata Trusts and the Tata group contributed in handsome measure to establishing four outstanding institutions of national importance: the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (1936), the Tata Memorial Centre (1941), the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (1945) and, seen here, the National Centre for the Performing Arts (1966)
1991
JRD Tata, the late chairman of the Tata group, establishes the JRD and Thelma J Tata Trust to promote education, health and the uplift and welfare of women. In 1995, the Sir Ratan Tata Trust expands the ambit of its philanthropy to include rural livelihoods and communities, arts and culture, and public initiatives.
2014
The Tata Trusts become a truly united entity after a recasting exercise aimed at extending the canvas of its programmes, deepening their impact and realising the objective of touching 100 million lives by 2021. This was the beginning of a transformation that has made the Trusts more cohesive, focused and purposeful with their philanthropy.