RIP JAMSHED J IRANI, “THE STEEL MAN OF INIDA” PASSES AWAY AT 86

The steel man of India, Jamshed J Irani, passed away late Monday night in Jamshedpur, according to Tata Steel. He was 85. Irani spent more than 40 years working for Tata Steel. He departed from the Tata Steel board in June 2011, leaving a legacy of 43 years that brought him and the company recognition on a global scale in a number of industries.

Jiji and Khorshed Irani's son, Dr. Irani, was born in Nagpur on June 2, 1936. He earned his BSc from Science College in 1956 and his MSc in Geology from Nagpur University in 1958. Then, as a J N Tata scholar, he enrolled in the University of Sheffield in the UK.

“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.

For more than 40 years, Irani made a significant contribution to the Indian economy, the steel industry, and the Tatas. At the British Iron and Steel Research Association in Sheffield, he started his career in 1963 as a senior scientific officer.

When he returned to India in 1968, he joined Tata Steel as the director's assistant (R&D). He was named General Manager in 1979 and President in 1985. In 1992, he was appointed managing director, a post he maintained until July 2001. Irani holds a doctoral degree from the University of Sheffield in the UK and a master's degree in geology from Nagpur University. 

Irani also received the third-highest civilian honour, the Padma Bhushan.