Tata Sons, the central investment holding company of the Tata Companies, holds a unique mystery – a single share owned by a man from Gujarat’s royal family. This intriguing story involves Maharawal Virendrasinhji Chauhan, the king of Chota Udaipur, who was allotted 12 or 13 shares in Tata Sons in the 1980s due to his close friendship with JRD Tata. This revelation came from his son, Jai Pratap, who explained that the shares were likely part of an internal reorganisation.
Maharawal Virendrasinhji Chauhan, officially known as Virendra Singh Chauhan, ascended to the throne at the age of 11 after his father’s death in 1946. He was a descendant of Prithviraj Chauhan and received a privy purse worth Rs 212,000 per year. His early career involved serving as a director of National Ekco, a Tata company, and later joining the Tata Mills Board of Directors under Ratan Tata’s father, Naval Tata’s leadership.
In 1998, Maharawal Virendrasinhji Chauhan decided to sell his Tata Sons shares to start a garment manufacturing business in Bengaluru. However, he chose to retain one solitary share, preserving the honor of being a Tata Sons shareholder. This single share, inherited by his heirs after his death in 2005, continues to be a fascinating aspect of the Tata Sons shareholder list.
The story highlights the deep relationship and trust that Tata, as one of India’s most iconic business empires, has earned. Maharawal Virendrasinhji Natwarsinhji Chauhan’s legacy as a Tata Sons shareholder remains a testament to the unique bond shared between the royal family and the Tata group.
