BUCKET LIST: MY ADVENTURE IN PARIS TO MEET MY ROLE MODEL

Ever since I was a kid, I have been a car enthusiast, fascinated by everything related to cars. Among all the brands I loved, Tata Motors stood out as my favorite, not just for their vehicles, but because of the Tata Group’s strong ethics, legacy, and leadership, especially that of Mr. J.R.D. Tata (fondly known as Jeh) and of course, the legend Mr. Ratan Tata.

J.R.D Tata (Source: Tata Group)

Jeh was a French-born visionary who gave wings to India by founding Tata Airlines (which later became Air India), the country’s first airline. He had a deep passion for flying, racing, skiing, and most importantly, for people. He led Tata Sons for nearly five decades, between 1930 to 1990, and even while leading India’s biggest business empire, his focus remained on building a better India after independence, passionately continuing Tata’s purpose: whatever is good for India is good for Tata. I have read so many stories about him, and what makes him truly inspiring is that, despite his wealth and talent, he stayed kind, simple, and always cared deeply about people. He’s my idol.

"To be a leader, you have got to lead human beings with affection" –Jeh

When I got admission to my master’s in Germany, after completing all my formalities and shopping, I started planning for the places to visit in Europe. First on the list was Paris, the birthplace of Jeh and he is resting at Père Lachaise Cemetery. I landed in Germany in the last week of September 2016, and the next month, I got a student-trip opportunity to visit Paris, and I didn’t want to refuse the opportunity. I went to Paris with new friends; our first stop was the Louvre Museum to see the famous Mona Lisa painting. After that, I told them I wanted to visit Père Lachaise Cemetery, so I couldn’t join them for the rest of the trip.

I took the map, marked the destination, and told them that I would meet them back at 7 PM at the Eiffel Tower’s north pillar. I didn’t even have a working mobile connection, so I had to meet them at that time. I took the L’Open Tour Paris bus pass and headed toward the destination, following the map. I had to change three buses (around 10 kilometers) and walk another 2.5 km. I barely had five hours to catch the last bus to return (and I wanted to avoid underground trams).

Somewhere in Paris

As I reached the end of the bus route, my phone’s battery was draining as I had been using the camera. I noted my friend’s number on the map to use in case of emergency. I started walking and missed the route, it became very hard to ask people for directions as most of them were visitors like me, and they didn’t know what I was asking about. Luckily, an English-speaking French lady helped me find the route. And at last, I reached Père Lachaise Cemetery.

Entrance to the Père Lachaise Cemetery

It’s a 110-acre cemetery with about 70,000 burial plots. I got a bit lost trying to find his name on the list. The staff didn’t speak English, and I didn’t have internet to translate. I started losing hope as time was running out and the day was breaking. I almost turned back with a heavy heart but just kept going, asking everyone I could, but no luck. I just sat down and checked my phone for any pictures of Jeh, and luckily I found a screenshot of Jeh’s grave I had saved back in India. I showed it to a lady at the security desk and she said something in French, “Aah, Thahta…” I just followed her hand gestures since I didn’t understand French. 

The moment I saw his grave, it hit me so hard I nearly broke down. It felt so real, as if I was meeting him in person.. I couldn’t hold back the tears, and my heart felt full of something I can’t put into words. As my phone was about to die, I wanted to take a photo first, while taking a selfie, the sun’s rays shone through his grave and fell right on me. It felt like he was blessing me, or maybe I just arrived at the perfect moment.

At Jeh’s grave. A moment I will never forget.

I started returning from there, and my phone's battery was dead. I headed to the nearest Starbucks for free Wifi (and of course for a good coffee too) and charged my phone enough to make a WhatsApp call to my friend to inform him that I may arrive a bit late. I took a cappuccino and started rushing to the Bastille bus stop (where I have to take the  bus connection).

At Place de la Bastille (Near the bus stop)

I boarded the last bus at Bastille and changed to another bus that went directly to the Eiffel Tower. I got stuck in heavy traffic, but thanks to the Starbucks Wi-Fi, I was able to inform my friends about the delay. I reached around 8 PM, and my friends were waiting in line to climb the Eiffel Tower.

The Eiffel Tower at night. 

Last month, on the 29th of July was his 114th birth anniversary, and I remembered the adventure I had in Paris. I love his quote, "Live life a little dangerously." I don’t think he meant being reckless, but rather urging us to find the courage to pursue what we love, embrace challenges, and create something meaningful that positively impacts others. His principles continue to inspire my life, guiding me to stay true to what I believe in, lead with kindness, and strive to create a positive impact in society, just as he did, with passion and humility.

One of my friends, Sivaji, gifted me this pencil sketch on Jeh’s 114th birth anniversary (Thanks very much, Sivaji. Handmade gifts are so valuable, I will treasure it forever.)

I brought a few flowers from his grave in his memory and they are still with me. They remind me of the legacy of such a great personality.

It’s true that when we strongly believe in something and don’t give up, things can happen! I still remember the moment I found that screenshot of Jeh’s grave when I was feeling lost and about to give up; it gave me the hope I needed to keep going. So, guys, whatever you are going through, don’t give up. Keep pushing forward, no matter how big or small the challenge. It’s hard sometimes, but it’s always better than looking back and wishing you had tried one more time!

"Nothing ever worthwhile is achieved without deep thought and hard work" 
-Jeh