This little known fact can be learnt from a letter Netaji had written to the then managing director of Tata, N B Sakalatbala, way back in November 12, 1928. The ‘confidential’ letter, written by Netaji who was the president of the union from 1928 to 1937, throws light on his deep concern for Indian workers in industries at a time when Britishers were occupying key positions in all sectors.

On the occasion of Netaji’s 114th birth anniversary on Saturday, a litho copy of the original letter was handed over to Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at a function held in Cuttack, birth place of the freedom fighter.

As the company was largely dominated by Britishers at that time, Netaji was made the association’s president on the advice of national leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, to speed up the process of ‘Indianisation’, according to Tata sources.

“I feel sincerely that the future of this industry — including peace in the labour world — depends largely on Indianisation,” he said in the letter.

“This is a point which foreigners — however good they otherwise may be — cannot sufficiently appreciate,” Netaji said in the letter, a copy of which was released here.