Jamshedpur located in the state of Jharkhand is the first steel city of India founded by Sir Jamsetji N Tata. The Tata Steel Plant in Jamshedpur is India's first integrated private steel plant established in the year 1907.
Jamshedpur, the 84th fastest growing city in the world as ranked by the City Mayors Foundation is often referred to as the 'Pittsburgh of India' due to its similarities with the steel-making capital of the world, Pittsburgh, which are:
1. Mineral and Water Resources found in both the cities.
2. Sir Jamsetji N Tata's visit to Pittsburgh to learn their advanced steelmaking technologies.
3. The Engineer whom Jamsetji Tata hired to design the city of Jamshedpur was from Pittsburgh.
Keep reading the article to know why Jamshedpur is called the Pittsburgh of India.
Table Of Contents
Pittsburgh, The World's Steel Making Capital
Pittsburgh, the 66th largest city in the United States, is located in the state of Pennsylvania. It is referred to as the 'Steel City' or the 'Steel Capital of the world' because of more than 300 steel-related business, the city is associated with. Pittsburgh is also called as the 'City of Bridges' for having 446 bridges throughout the city.
Why Did Pittsburgh Became A Steel Town?
Pittsburgh named after British statesman William Pitt. was founded in the 1700s. The city came into limelight after the American revolution. It had abundant deposits of all the mineral resources required for making iron and such as iron ore, coal, Manganese, Mica, etc. Three rivers, namely, Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio flows through the city which made it water sufficient, another important factor for manufacturing iron and steel.
Therefore, the city rapidly attracted the iron and steel industry and became the first steel city in the United States.
Pic Credit: Flickr
How Pittsburgh Became A Steel Town?
The industrial revolution started in Pittsburgh in the year 1815. By then, Pittsburgh was not only producing large quantities of iron but also brass, tin, and glass products. By the year 1840, it had become one of the largest cities in the United States.
In the year 1875, Pittsburgh produced its first steel ingot and by 1911, it was producing half of the nation's steel. By the year 1960, Pittsburgh had become the Steel-making capital of the world.
How Jamsetji Tata Got An Idea To Establish The Steel Industry In India?
Sir Jamsetji N Tata entered the industrial world in the 1860s and joined his father's export trading firm. Meanwhile, the world was going through a major industrial revolution and the Steel Industry was the big thing.
Sir Jamsetji N Tata went on a business trip to Manchester in the 19th century and attended a lecture by Thomas Carlyle, a great British historian, satirical writer, philosopher, mathematician, and teacher. Thomas Carlyle quoted during the lecture," the nation which gains control of iron soon acquires the control of gold", which inspired Jamsetji to build a steel plant in India.
Pic Credit: Steel Guru
When And Why Sir Jamsetji N Tata Went To Pittsburgh?
Jamsetji was eager to know the latest technologies used in the steel-making industry then, so he went to Pittsburgh in the 19th century and brought the advanced technologies back home to India with him.
Soon, he sought the help of geologist, Charles Page Perin, to find him an ideal site that is rich in iron, coal, limestone, and water. In 1904 Charles Perin began the search in Madhya Pradesh but was unable to find a proper site. Later, the Maharaja of Mayurbhanj appointed Pramatha Nath Bose, a renowned geologist of his court to help J N Tata. Bose, found out the small village Sakchi (now known as Jamshedpur) and suggested J N Tata, to build the plant there.
Why Jamsetji N Tata Chose Jamshedpur To Establish The Steel Industry?
Sakchi was stuffed with large deposits of Iron Ore, Coal, Manganese, Mica, Bauxite, and Limestone and also had plenty of water due to the presence of two rivers Subarnarekha and Kharkai which made it an ideal place for establishing an Iron and Steel Industry.
J N Tata approved the site and started the planning of the plant as well as the city but unfortunately, he passed away in the year 1904 before the construction began. He had a clear vision which was gratified by his son Dorabji Tata and cousin R D Tata.
When was the construction of Tata Steel Ltd started? When did Tata Steel produce its first steel ingot?
The construction of Tata Iron and Steel Company (now Tata Steel Ltd) and the city officially commenced in the year 1908. India witnessed a new phase of the Industrial Revolution when the first steel ingot was produced on February 16, 1912.
Jamshedpur Was Designed by An Engineer From Pittsburgh
Another reason why Jamshedpur is called Pittsburgh of India because the city was designed by Julian Kennedy, an engineer from Pittsburgh. Kennedy accompanied Sir Jamsetji N Tata on his way back to India and drafted the design of the city.
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