The Tata Group has given India some of its most iconic brands and institutions. As the country collectively mourns the passing of Ratan Tata (1937-2024), we look back on one of the most iconic establishments created by the Tata Group – the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. It was on December 16, 1902, that the magnificent Taj Mahal Palace opened its doors to guests in Bombay, present-day Mumbai.
An epitome of luxury and grandeur, the hotel was established by the founder of the Tata Group, Jamsetji N. Tata (1839-194). This hotel would change the face of the Indian hospitality sector.
It was also the first hotel in India to have electricity. But did you know the story behind the establishment of this hotel? It’s a story that offers a masterclass in channelling your emotions and rejections into something meaningful! In this case, it was this iconic hotel. Indians faced racial discrimination when they were under the control of colonial powers.
Racial discrimination during the 19th and 20th centuries was encountered by Indians even when travelling abroad. Jamsetji Tata was subjected to racial discrimination when he tried to enter Watson’s Hotel, one of the most posh hotels in Bombay at that time. The hotel was an exclusive European-only establishment that only allowed entry to "Whites", and Jamsetji Tata was not allowed to enter.
The hotel even employed only English waitresses in its restaurant and ballroom. A common joke at the time was, "If only Watson had imported the English weath.
