Steel man of India Jamshed J. Irani dies at 86

Dr. Jamshed J. Irani, frequently known as the Steel Man of India, died on Monday late night in Jamshedpur at the age of 86.

We are deeply saddened at the demise of Padma Bhushan Dr. Jamshed J Irani, fondly known as the Steel Man of India. Tata Steel family offers its deepest condolences to his family and loved ones”, Tata Steel tweeted on its official handle.

On June 2, 1936, Dr. Jamshed J. Irani was born in Nagpur. He graduated with a BSc in Science from the city’s Science College in 1956, and two years later, in 1958, he earned an MSc in Geology from Nagpur University.

 Later, as a JN Tata scholar, Irani travelled to the University of Sheffield in the UK where he earned a master’s in metallurgy in 1960 and a PhD in 1963.

 In 1962, Dr. Irani started working for the British Iron and Steel Research Association. In 1968, he went to India and began working for the Tata Iron and Steel Company (now known as Tata Steel) as the director-in-charge of research and development’s assistant.

Dr. Irani rose through the ranks to become Tata Steel’s president in 1985, general manager in 1979, and general superintendent in 1978. Before retiring in 2001, he later rose through the ranks to joint managing director in 1988 and managing director in 1992.

Dr. Jamshed J. Irani joined the Tata Steel Board and held the position of non-executive director beginning in 2001 for ten years. Additionally, he held directorships at a number of Tata Group firms, including Tata Motors and Tata Teleservices.

Dr. Irani also held the position of national president of the Confederation of Indian Industry from 1992 to 1993. For his contributions to industry, he received a number of honours, including the Padma Bhushan in 2007.

Dr. Irani is survived by his wife Daisy Irani, as well as his three children, Zubin, Niloufer, and Tanaaz.