The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Tamil version of ‘The Romance of Tata Steel’

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Sunday, Feb 17, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil version of ‘The Romance of Tata Steel’

Special Correspondent

Ranimaindhan has captured the original work beautifully: M.S. Swaminathan

— Photo: R.Ragu

Book release: Ranimaindhan, translator of ‘the book, seen with agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan and Managing Director of Tata Steel B. Muthuraman in Chennai on Friday.

CHENNAI: The Tamil version of ‘The Romance of Tata Steel,’ translated by Ranimaindhan, was released here on Friday.

Releasing the Tamil edition, N. Ravi, Editor, The Hindu, said the Tatas introduced several welfare measures for its employees even before it was made mandatory by law. For example, the eight-hour work a day was introduced in the Tata group of companies in 1912. The earned leave system was introduced in 1920. These measures were introduced in India only in 1948.

Talking about the original version, Mr. Ravi said author R.M. Lala’s admiration for the house of Tatas had not stopped him from discussing the problems faced by the company. Lauding the efforts of the author of the Tamil version, Mr. Ranimaindhan, he said he had not merely translated the work but captured the spirit without drifting away from the original work.

B. Muthuraman, Managing Director, Tata Steel, said the company had given back several welfare measures to society for nearly a century.

Some years ago, a Dutch company took up a study on how companies survived for over a century and above. It revealed that four fundamental characters were required for longevity – oneness with the society, adoptability, decentralisation and financial prudence. The Tatas had all the four qualities, which was one of the reasons for their survival, he said.

At present, Tata Steel had to face many challenges. The group was involved in three green field projects in India and also planned more acquisition in the iron ore and steel industries, he added.

M.S. Swaminathan, renowned agriculture scientist, said the Tata group was supporting many causes without much publicity.

Talking about the book, Dr. Swaminathan said Mr. Ranimaindhan had captured the original work in a beautiful manner. The translator had captured the nuances from the original version into Tamil very well.

Mr. Ranimaindhan said he had the privilege of translating into Tamil the two books of R.M. Lala. His (Mr Lala’s) style was very clear, lucid and simple. Last September Mr. Lala had sent a letter expressing his wish that Mr. Ranimaindhan should translate ‘The Romance of Tata Steel’. “I was fascinated by the documentation of Tata Steel’s history in Lalaji’s inimitable style,” he added.

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