| If ever the history of cars be rewritten, then | | | | in their sweat and toil throughout the entire |
| India's leading auto maker and an industrial giant | | | | exercise. |
| Tata's Nano will be firmly etched in golden words | | | | There were all elements of a blockbuster in the |
| as a car that became 'a dreamer's dream come | | | | making as one went through the motions but the |
| true.' | | | | project being prestigious as it was led by a |
| There was a dream, and a dream team behind | | | | dreamer-innovator and a true leader leading |
| the most prestigious and challenging project ever | | | | upfront, the result was all there to be seen in |
| undertaken by an Indian company. Nay, shall we | | | | Nano. |
| say in all modesty, but for Tatas to launch a car | | | | For all ye doomsayers' -be it environmentalists, |
| price tagged at sub or near sub Rs 1,00,000 | | | | competitors and 'fence sitters', Mr Tata gave a |
| amount. | | | | befitting reply and it was only 'Nano.' |
| The dream was conceived by its architect (even | | | | Nano in Gujarati aptly means 'small' and the name |
| by educational qualification) - Ratan Tata, about | | | | itself exuded the Gujarati ethos - by fate or |
| four years back when he heard Maruti Suzuki | | | | otherwise (are you listening Mr Tata?). A family of |
| honcho belching out the now famous challenge of | | | | four comfortably ensconced in the safety, |
| building a car at that 'price' was next to impossible. | | | | comfort and 'luxury' of a car was exactly what |
| This challenge not only fired Mr Tata but also his | | | | Mr Tata dreamed all about when he |
| dream to set up a team of dedicated pros and | | | | conceptualized this prestigious project. |
| ace auto experts to realise it in just shade under | | | | There may be more to Mr Tata's 'Nano' car what |
| four years! | | | | with the entire world miniaturizing its individual |
| It was a sight when Mr Tata addressed a jam | | | | plans (Bajaj - Renault, Toyota, and others to |
| packed auditorium at Auto Expo 2008 last | | | | follow) to put up a small car. But then Tata's Nano |
| January at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi when the car | | | | is in a different league having stolen the initiative |
| was unveiled in front of invitees comprising Union | | | | definitely over the rest. |
| Ministers, VVIPS, dignitaries and journalists. | | | | Choke the streets; let parking space shrink to |
| Mr Tata in his unassuming yet charming fashion | | | | millimeters Mr Tata with your Nano, but you have |
| unraveled the mystery behind the 'dream turned | | | | definitely brought dream to 'reality' on the streets |
| reality' and the travails and the truth clearly | | | | with Nano for the 'middle class' Indian family. |
| gleaned out of his dreamy and sparkling eyes. The | | | | Let the Indian farmer fire his imagination to use |
| sense of relief was much more than evident as | | | | his Tata 'Nano' to ferry milk cans (perched |
| he explained the entire project without missing | | | | precariously out of the car windows or placed on |
| out vitals that would fail even a Sherlock Holmes | | | | its hood. Allow him to transport his calves and |
| who could possibly never be able to reveal in its | | | | implements. May the rural sari vendor take |
| entirety but for those of us who were present at | | | | different route each day to cater to his clients |
| the occasion, it was like the proverbial 'from the | | | | with family in tow, or allow the cabbies using Nano |
| horses mouth.' | | | | to provide relief to bus passengers left in the |
| Dream turned reality was not easy to come as | | | | lurch when there is a breakdown or strike! |
| costs had to be scaled to proportions that | | | | Nano is here for sure, even before it hits the |
| matched the sourcing of required part in terms of | | | | roads! |
| quality and deliverance. Power train, engine design, | | | | Mr Tata, shall we conclude for now? Forget |
| exteriors as well as interiors, all were challenging in | | | | environmentalist fume over emissions norms; let |
| their own fashion and yet integrated in to one | | | | Government fight over bureaucratic and |
| 'small yet 'big' car. | | | | administrative hassles; and finally, even allow |
| This project, according to Mr Tata, would not | | | | opponents to raise a 'war cry,' |
| have been accomplished without techno savvy, | | | | We shall only say this. |
| young and ambitious engineers and pros, who put | | | | |