In 1908, the Tatas harboured an audacious dream – to establish India’s largest steel company. After an extensive search, they discovered the ideal location, a village called Sakchi in the eastern part of the country. Despite being perfect in terms of resources, Sakchi lacked the amenities necessary to attract workers and management. Rather than giving up, Tata took an unprecedented step – they decided to build an entire town from scratch.

The challenge was immense. Sakchi was a village without proper roads, waste disposal mechanisms, or reputable hospitals. Tata, undeterred, leased land from the government and initiated the construction of a fully-fledged town. They established the Tata Town Services to handle infrastructure needs, from sewage waste treatment to garbage disposal, even setting up schools and the Tata Main Hospital, which still stands today.

In essence, Tata did everything typically expected from a local government for a city. Sakchi became India’s first planned city, a meticulous construction rather than an organic evolution.

But what about Jamshedpur, you ask? Well, Sakchi is Jamshedpur. The name change occurred during World War I when Tata played a crucial role in supplying steel to the British Empire. In gratitude, the British renamed Sakchi to Jamshedpur after Tata’s founder, Jamsetji Tata.

For a century, Tata single-handedly managed Jamshedpur, making it a unique ‘company town.’ This meant it functioned without a municipal corporation and without interference from local government bodies. However, in 2018, the city faced a significant challenge.

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed against Tata, challenging the concept of a ‘private’ city. The petitioners argued that Tata’s focus on amenities for its employees led to lopsided development, neglecting other parts of Jamshedpur. The absence of a local government exacerbated the issue.

The resolution seemed straightforward – establish a municipal corporation, transferring governing rights to a local body. However, the Tatas were hesitant to relinquish control. Having built the city from scratch, they argued that the trust people had in Jamshedpur was due to the Tata name.

A novel solution emerged to declare Jamshedpur as an ‘industrial town’ under a special provision in the Indian Constitution. This arrangement would involve a municipal council with representation from the Tata Group, government nominees, and residents. It aimed to balance the residents’ trust in Tata’s legacy and the need for a more democratic governance structure.

This narrative sheds light on what could be India’s first and last ‘company town.’ The evolving dynamics of Jamshedpur’s governance reflect the intricate relationship between private entities, local authorities, and the community.