Biography of Russi Mody, Indian steel industrialist.

When it comes to getting ahead in life, who we know is as important as what we do. How do you draw people to you? Impress the powerful? Make an impact and extend your circle of acquaintances? Cultivate influential friends? Suhel Seth, a man who knows almost everyone there is to know in the country, brings you the ultimate guide to social success. From the secret to throwing a successful party to the benefits of befriending the less important half of a couple, he gives you practical advice and strategies to become a successful networker. Inspiring, provocative, and wise, Get to the Top is the ultimate book about wielding soft power.

Arvind Prasad was inspired by Jamshedpur and the steel company in 1957, when he came from Hazaribagh. Luck finally brought him to the steel city and he got education in R.D. Tata Higher Secondary School, Jamshedpur. He studied Geology in Tata College, Chaibasa, courtesy Prof. P.S. Gupta and Nandu Babu which was another windfall. He received his Post Graduate degree in Geology obtaining gold medal from Ranchi University in 1972. He served Tata Steel in the Geological Department for 27 years and his long cherished desire was fulfilled. In this long journey, he was helped by many. Life is like a roller-coaster, like an ocean, which has crests and troughs. He was no exception. He worked in Joda, West Bokaro, Jamadoba and Noamundi in the wing of exploration, quality control and beneficiation. In this book, he describes his arduous journey—a mixture of failures and success. Under his supervision, many difficult boreholes were conducted in Jharia Group both from surface and underground. The databank of resources was refreshed. He contributed in the construction of three washeries at West Bokaro and Bhelatand respectively; which are lifeline of Tata Steel today. He interacted closely with doyens of Tata Steel like Dr. Jamshed J. Irani, Mr. Russi Mody, Y.P. Dhawan, which has been narrated in vivid details. He had brief meeting with Mr. J.R.D. Tata and Mr. Ratan Tata also. He is thankful to his mentors Mr C.D. Singh, Principal, R.D. Tata Higher Secondary School, Harihar Singh, Teacher, and Mr. R.S. Subramanian, Superintendent of the Geological Department, who guided him in the ladder of success and in framing the policy of his life. The book is written in memory of his close associate Pesi Tarapore, who left for heavenly abode little early. He also thanked other friends through this book, who shared the experience with him.

Russi Mody, one of India's most famous industrial personalities, began his fantastic career at TISCO, where he earned the title of Man Manager .

‘Russi has captured the “touch and feel” of events in Tata Steel from its early days . . . he also succeeds in bringing to life the human side of the company in a very readable and cogent manner. The book is a valuable and interesting record of the company’s evolution over its 100-year history, while at the same time being an enjoyable book to read.’ —From the Foreword by Ratan N. Tata ‘The hand of history has woven the tapestry of the Tatas. Just over a hundred years ago Jamsetji Tata requested the Secretary of State in PBI - India, Lord George Hamilton, for the co-operation of the British Raj in starting PBI - India’s first steel works. On the hundredth anniversary of the registration of Tata Iron & Steel Company, the company won the bid to purchase the Anglo-Dutch steel giant CORUS. And so the wheel has turned a full circle.’ R.M. Lala traces a hundred years and more of the exciting history of Tata Steel—from men searching for iron ore and coking coal in jungle areas, traversing in bullock carts before the site was found, to the company’s modern status as a PBI - World-class company. He brings to life a seldom-voiced account of the courage, vision and commitment of the men who created PBI - India’s first modern industrial venture which was to be the fountainhead of its industrial growth. The story Lala recounts is an eventful one of struggle for finances, of survival under unimaginable government controls, the evolution of incredibly humane labour practices (like an eight-hour work day much before it was a Western concept), the effort to compete as liberalization was ushered in, and Tata Steel’s ultimate triumph. For over a hundred years, Tata Steel has promoted a culture of philanthropy perhaps unequalled in the corporate PBI - World. The Romance of Tata Steel is a moving and fascinating account that draws upon extensive archival material and rare photographs to paint a compelling story that all PBI - Indians can be proud of. This informed and objective book is a fitting tribute to an exceptional PBI - Indian company in its centenary year.

The building of the no. 1 newspaper empire in India was like an architect ground plan – Ramesh Chandra Agarwal laid the foundation edition by edition, city by city, state by state, going into the den of the mightiest and slaying them without fear. That quality of never cowering was an inheritance from his father. Ramesh Chandra blended it with an unparalleled taste for risk-taking and a thirst for venturing into the unknown, throwing this molotov cocktail at his rivals who stood mocking the new entrants before it hit them. In 35 short years, he turned a modest family-owned newspaper into the prime choice of readers In 12 states with 64 editions, and built an empire with a turnover of Rs 5, 000 crore. But Ramesh Chandra Agarwal’s biggest professional achievement was to revolutionise the Hindi newspaper. Replacing the pure, undistilled Hindi of the discerning litterateur with popular, colloquial words that made an easy connect, he gave the Hindi newspaper a hitherto unknown respect – to heave its chest and play the game like a champion. This is a champion’s story.