Summary
D. R. Pendse reflects on his working relationship with J. R. D. Tata during his tenure as a Tata economist. He describes a pattern in which he would draft articles or notes proposing economic policies, share them with JRD, and consistently receive enthusiastic endorsement. Pendse attributes this to JRD's complete trust in him and a shared conviction that his proposals served both industry and country.
Pendse claims that several major economic policy reforms — including the cancellation of the Monopolies Act and gold control — were ideas first floated in his articles. He stresses the symbiotic nature of his relationship with JRD: while he proposed ideas, JRD acted on them out of independent conviction formed through long discussions, not mere deference.
Key points
- Pendse, as a Tata economist, routinely sent articles and notes to JRD Tata before publication or delivery as speeches.
- JRD Tata consistently endorsed Pendse's proposals with phrases like 'First class, excellent, very good' and 'I seem to agree with everything what you say.'
- JRD never obstructed Pendse from writing, speaking, or commenting publicly on economic matters.
- Pendse believed JRD trusted him because his work served both industry and the country.
- Pendse claims several adopted economic policies — including cancellation of the Monopoly Act and gold control — originated in his articles.
- Pendse characterizes the Pendse–JRD relationship as symbiotic, built on long discussions and shared conviction rather than one-way influence.
Transcript
D R Pendse on Think Tanks and the Power of Ideas
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si8F_I4P8xY Duration: 124.7s
D. R. Pendse (00:09): When I made a proposal, I will always first write a note, send it to — I will write, publish the article or send a note to JRD. And JRD, he will always say, “First class, excellent, very good.” And I also said, “Do you agree?” He said, “Yes. I seem to agree with everything what you say.” Because that is a fact, because I mean, I’m a Tata economist. So if I have interest of Tata than private sector industry, I’m bound to say something which is the interest of industry. You could see that. And he often said that there are really nothing to say. “I seem to agree with everything what you say.” So he never, never obstructed me from writing anything. Never. Never obstructed me from giving a speech. Never obstructed me to make a comment. Nothing. Never. Just left it to me because he was confident. He had complete faith that I will do something. Whatever I do will be in the interest of the country. It will be in the interest of industry. Because I was, in my opinion, I was in his 18. He believed in me. And that is — and he decided, why should he not believe in me? I’ve certainly done something which is good for the country in terms of economic policy. And all these economic policies which adopted, most of them are straight from articles. I proposed this. Monopoly Act cancelled. I will propose. Industrial, send in gold control. This, that, that — all these things were. And that — he didn’t do it directly because I propose. He did it because I may propose. I may propose because they had long discussions with me, and they are symbiotic. I’m not saying that they did only because I — they must have been convinced about it.
Notable passages
"When I made a proposal, I will always first write a note, send it to — I will write, publish the article or send a note to JRD."
"Monopoly Act cancelled. I will propose. Industrial, send in gold control. This, that, that — all these things were."
"So he never, never obstructed me from writing anything. Never. Never obstructed me from giving a speech."
"He did it because I may propose. I may propose because they had long discussions with me, and they are symbiotic."
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