The Maharaja returns home; Tata's takeover Air India today

After nearly seven decades, Air India returns to the hangar of it's original pilot - The Tata Group.

The airline was founded by J.R.D. as Tata Airlines in 1932, with a capital of Rs 2 lakh given by a reluctant Sir Dorabji Tata, the then chairman of Tata Sons. The initial service offered a weekly airmail service between Karachi and Madras via Ahmedabad and Bombay.

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In 1946, the aviation division of Tata Sons was listed as Air India and in 1948, Air India International was launched with flights to Europe.

Post-independence in 1948, the Indian government bought a 49 percent stake in the airline to finally acquire the airline from J.R.D. Tata in 1953.

J.R.D however continued to be at the helm for Air India till 1977 accepting only Re 1 a year as salary.

And as the current Chairman (Emeritus) of the salt-to-software conglomerate Ratan Tata had tweeted when Tata Group won the bid, It would have overjoyed the original pilot of the airline, JRD Tata to know that Air India is back home.