Sita Singh launches her book

Jamshedpur, Oct. 4: Tracing the history of the steel city vis-à-vis Tata Steel between 1907 and 2007, Tata Steel Jamshedpur Aur Hum, has sold 100-odd copies within a fortnight of its launch.

The book is the brainchild of a former Tata employee, Sita Singh, 41, who gave it three years of her life. It tries to highlight on the little and big accidents, incidents and people who shaped not only the company, but the city too, into its present day avatar.

“Incorporating 100-year history into a book was a challenge,” admitted Singh, who was associated with the Tata Steel Corporate Communications between 2000-2003.

“While I was working at the Centre for Excellence, I met a foreigner who had travelled miles for his research on Tata Steel. Though there is a lot of interest in the company abroad, in this country there are very few works, books or articles on it.”

The book discusses several milestones of Tata Steel. Its registration on August 26, 1907, the launch of the Tata Main Hospital in 1908, production of its first iron slab in February 16, 1912, establishment of United Club in 1913, the initiation of labour welfare programme in 1916 and establishment of Tata Workers’ Union in 1920. Netaji’s association with the trade union movement in 1928 is also mentioned. There is also a copy of the leader’s letter to Tata Steel.

“The book is a treasure-trove,” said an official. Priced at Rs 300, it is available at local bookstores.