It was the first week of May, 1945. Hitler lay dead in his bunker, the Nazi jackboot finally crushed. The all-consuming fire of World War II was slowly dying out across Europe. But a fire still burned in India as the freedom movement hurtled towards what would be a violent end two years later. It was a time of hope, it was a time of despair. It was also a time of bitter acrimony.
Around that time, a group of Indian industrialists announced their plans to visit Britain and the US to study the latest methods of industrial production and other scientific advancements. The team included Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata, JRD to all who knew him. By then, JRD was already a famous name in India and abroad, the son of a Parsi father and French mother, who, in 1929, became the first person to receive a pilot바카라s licence issued in India. The man acknowledged as the father of India바카라s civil aviation was to achieve much more in the years.
The proposed Britain trip was seen by many, including Gandhi, as a betrayal of India바카라s cause바카라the battle to free herself from the chains of slavery. 바카라...Big merchants, capitalists, industrialists and others speak and write against the government, but in action do its will and even profit may amount to say, five per cent, against the government바카라s 95. Circumstances alone may be to blame for the condition in which the country has been weltering since the advent of British commerce backed by British guns,바카라 Gandhi said in a statement. 바카라This independence will not come for the asking. It will come only when the interests, big or small, are prepared to forgo the crumbs that fall to them from partnership with the British in the loot which British rule takes from India.바카라
JRD was dismayed by Gandhi바카라s blistering attack and put out a lengthy rebuttal. 바카라I emphatically repudiate the suggestion that, in visiting Britain and America for the purpose of investigating the difficult problems which Indian industry is faced at this critical juncture, we are out to enter into 바카라shameful deals바카라 behind the country바카라s back.바카라
He then proceeded to explain why this trip was necessary. 바카라It is somewhat difficult to see how a business trip of this nature, undertaken with such objectives, can be considered detrimental to the interests of the country. India cannot afford to stand still while other nations, great and small, are forging ahead,바카라 JRD wrote. 바카라The fact that India has not been able to secure political freedom is one which industrialists and businessmen deplore as much as any other class, and I cannot see how our visit can be construed as detracting in any way from the national demand either for the release of the Congress Working Committee members or for complete freedom.바카라
Gandhi, however, later blessed the trip but not before reiterating his point when another industrialist, Ghanshyamdas Birla, also protested. 바카라My statement was necessary; it deals with a hypothetical case. It was no hasty opinion. The statement expresses the view which I have always held. You have nothing to regret since you, Tata... are proceeding wholly unofficially. You have my blessing and prayer in terms of famishing and naked India.바카라
Arguments made. Points scored. Case settled amicably.
