Jamshed J Irani Passes Away At 85 In Jamshedpur

Dr Jamshed J Irani, also known as the steel man of India. was associated with Tata Steel for around four decades. He joined The Tata Iron and Steel Company (now Tata Steel) as Assistant to the Director in-charge of Research and Development, in 1968

Well known Indian industrialist Jamshed J Irani, died in Jamshedpur late 31 October night, said Tata Steel. He passed away at the age of 85. Irani, also known as the steel man of India. was associated with Tata Steel for around four decades. After retiring from the board of Tata Steel in June 2011, he left a legacy of 43 years behind which earned him along with the Company, international acclaim in various fields. 

He was Born on 2 June 1936 in Nagpur to Jiji Irani and Khorshed Irani. He completed his education in BSc from Science College, Nagpur in 1956 and MSc in Geology from the Nagpur University in 1958. Later he then moved to the University of Sheffield in United Kingdom as a J N Tata scholar. There he pursued Masters in Metallurgy in 1960 and a PhD in Metallurgy in 1963. 

His professional career started with the British Iron and Steel Research Association in Sheffield in 1963. However, he always inclined towards contributing to the Nation’s progress. He came back to India to join The Tata Iron and Steel Company (now Tata Steel) as Assistant to the Director in-charge of Research and Development. Tata Steel as a firm then was well known in 1968.

His work led him to become General Superintendent in 1978, General Manager in 1979, and President of Tata Steel in 1985. He achieved the position of Joint Managing Director of Tata Steel in 1988 followed by Managing Director in 1992 before he retired in 2001. 

Along with joining the Board of Tata Steel in 1981, he was a Non-Executive Director too from 2001 for a decade. Apart from Tata Steel and Tata Sons, Dr Irani served as a Director of several Tata Group companies too which included Tata Motors and Tata Teleservices. Irani is survived by his wife Daisy Irani and his three children, Zubin, Niloufer and Tanaaz.