10^th October, 2020, which marked the 141st birth anniversary of Lady Meherbai Tata, wife of Sir Dorabji Tata, Tata Steel (Jamshedpur) rededicated the Sir Dorabji Tata Park in Bistupur, to Jamshedpur residents, on the occasion of the Park’s silver anniversary.

On the occasion, Tata Steel CEO and Managing Director, TV Narendran, unveiled the renovated park comprising an illuminated diamond structure and a pavilion, and his wife, Ruchi Narendran, unveiled the statue of Lady Meherbai Tata. They were joined by senior company officials and R. Ravi Prasad – President, Tata Workers’ Union, among other guests. In keeping with the ongoing pandemic, all other invitees, including employees, joined the event via videoconferencing.

Spread over 2.5 acres, the renovated park now includes a statue of Lady Meherbai Tata and a resplendent steel tubular structure and a pavilion through which the legacy of the famous ‘Jubilee Diamond’, has been immortalised in steel.

Speaking on the occasion, MD Narendran said, “It gives me immense pride to be a part of the Tata Group legacy. It is founded on strong values and exemplary leadership. Even 100 years later, we are still grounded in our ethos and stay committed to responsible and inclusive development. Sir Dorabji Tata and Lady Meherbai Tata are the embodiment of these beliefs. Both were spirited leaders and passionate individuals, who contributed immensely to our shared legacy. This park is a tribute to them and a symbol of Tata Steel’s commitment to the city of Jamshedpur.”

In a video message, Jamshed J. Irani, former MD of Tata Steel, said, “The Diamond Pavilion and Lady Meherbai’s statue are thoughtful additions to the Sir Dorabji Tata Park. The park, as it stands today, is a veritable salute to Sir Dorabji Tata and Lady Meherbai Tata for their contributions and sacrifices that helped in creating the inimitable legacy of Tata Group, Tata Steel and our city of Jamshedpur.”

The design of the upgraded park is based on the principles of sustainability and best practices to ensure that all design elements come together, projecting harmony and enduring as a holistic tribute to the legacy of Tata Steel and the city of Jamshedpur. The Diamond Pavilion, a marvel in steel, will be the city’s new dazzling attraction! Lady Meherbai’s statue stands at the southern end of the park, directly facing Sir Dorabji’s statue.

Sir Dorabji Tata was the eldest son of Tata group founder, J N Tata. The famous ‘Jubilee Diamond’ became part of the Tata story in the early 1900s when the diamond was pledged along with the entire personal wealth of Sir Dorabji Tata and his wife to pull TISCO (the former name of Tata Steel) out of severe financial difficulties in the aftermath of the First World War. Designed by the architect Nuru Karim, the diamond structure and the pavilion form an integral part of the overall redesign of Sir Dorabji Tata Park.

Positioned at the western end of the park, the pavilion lends to its sustainable and harmonious design, while capturing the timeless elegance of the ‘Jubilee Diamond’. Spanning 16m by 12m, the structure is made with Tata Structura tubular steel hollow sections to create an intricate lattice. Weighing 45 metric tonnes, the structure rests on the proverbial ‘diamond tip’, rising outward from the ground to meet the sky. The Jubilee Diamond structure also houses a central amphitheatre, allowing visitors to experience the brilliance of the diamond pavilion from within. The splendid pavilion is another addition to the ‘Structures of the Future’ series dedicated by Tata Steel to the country.

Over the past century, Tata Steel has been associated with some of the most iconic structures of India, like the Howrah Bridge in Calcutta, the Butterfly Park in Bangalore, the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, an award-winning steel sculpture depicting the ‘Gandhian Charkha’ at Mumbai’s Oval Maidan and ‘The Rath’ at the Biju Patnaik Park, Bhubaneswar.