We all have heard about Tata as a company and the various people who are behind its past and current success. Amongst all the Tata’s, Lady Meherbai was an important member who isn’t spoken about much. She had very independent thoughts and actions. While she was studying in school, her father wanted to change her name to its anglicized version, ‘Mary’ but Meherbai resisted and stood up to her father.
Although she was married into a wealthy family, she felt for the society and always worked towards its welfare. She travelled around the world with her husband and spoke about a lot of social issues like untouchability and the purdah system. She was committed to the cause of women's education.
Meherbai had a special interest in sports. She was not only fond of playing tennis but also loved horse riding. She won over sixty medals in various tennis tournaments. She was the first Indian woman drawn to play mixed doubles tennis in the Olympics in 1924. Not only that, she played all the matches wearing a Parsee saree. This showed her pride for her country and her roots in its culture.
While we are talking about Lady Meherbai Tata, her story is incomplete without the mention of the beautiful 245 carat Jubilee diamond, twice as large as the famous Kohinoor diamond. However, in 1920 to remove Tata Steel out from a great financial crisis she pledged the diamond, although her personal wealth, to a bank. Later this diamond was sold to create Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, which has been at the forefront of so many philanthropic activities in India.
Lady Meherbai Tata died of leukaemia in 1931. In her memory, the Tata Memorial Hospital was founded in Mumbai in 1941. This hospital is still one of the biggest fighters for the disease and treats many patients for free.
Her life, her fight for social causes, her love for the country and her love for sports , everything is an inspiration for me. I am sure she will continue to inspire me for life.
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