<P> In 1929, JRD renounced his French citizenship and became an Indian citizen, and started working at Tata . In 1930 JRD married Thelma Vicaji, the niece of Jack Vicaji, a colourful lawyer whom he hired to defend him on a charge of driving his Bugatti too fast along Bombay's main promenade, Marine Drive . Previously he had been engaged to Dinbai Mehta, the future mother of The Economist editor Shapur Kharegat . </P> <P> When J.R.D. Tata was in tour, he was inspired by his friends father pioneer Louis Blériot the first Man to fly across English channel, and took to flying . On 10 February 1929, Tata obtained the first pilot licence issued in India . He later came to be known as the father of Indian civil aviation . He founded India's first commercial airline, Tata Airlines in 1932, which became Air India in 1946, now India's national airline . He and Nevill Vintcent worked together in building Tata Airlines . They were also good friends . </P> <P> He joined Tata Sons as an unpaid apprentice in 1925 . In 1938, at the age of 34, JRD was elected Chairman of Tata Sons making him the head of the largest industrial group in India . He took over as Chairman of Tata Sons from his second cousin Nowroji Saklatwala . For decades, he directed the huge Tata Group of companies, with major interests in steel, engineering, power, chemicals and hospitality . He was famous for succeeding in business while maintaining high ethical standards--refusing to bribe politicians or use the black market . </P> <P> Under his chairmanship, the assets of the Tata Group grew from US $100 million to over US $5 billion . He started with 14 enterprises under his leadership and half a century later on 26 July 1988, when he left, Tata Sons was a conglomerate of 95 enterprises which they either started or in which they had controlling interest . </P>

Who is known as the father of aviation