Tata Steel – the world’s sixth largest steelmaker - completed its centenary in August this year, and the occasion was celebrated with much pomp and enthusiasm at the company’s genesis ground and first steel plant, Jamshedpur. As a tribute to the town of Jamshedpur and its people, who have contributed immensely over the years to the company’s success, Tata Steel will host a grand four-day city festival – Shatrang – between the 2nd and 5th of January 2008.

Tata Steel commenced its year long celebrations on August 26th at the Jamshedpur Steel Works with the release of the book by R M Lala titled ‘Romance of Tata Steel’, a documentary film named “The Spirit of Steel” directed by Zafar Hai and the launch of the Tata Steel Anthem penned by Javed Akhtar and composed by Shankar, Ehsaan & Loy, to mark the hundredth year of Tata Steel. Tata Steel also launched a micro site www.tatasteel100.com focusing on historic moments in the making of this great institution.

To continue the spirit of the centenary and keep up the revelry, the company has planned a 4-day fiesta called Shatrang at Jamshedpur. Shatrang, which literally means a hundred colours, reflects the spirit of Jamshedpur –a virtual melting pot of Indian culture and a symbol of the new industrial India, and will be held from 2nd till 5th January 2008 across various locations in Jamshedhpur.

The festivities that are set to transform Jamshedpur into a colourful cavalcade will include a variety of events across the city. ‘Voice of Jamshedpur’ – an inter-school music competition will see its winners sharing the stage with Shankar, Ehsaan & Loy at a grand concert at JRD Sports Complex on 5th January 2008. Over the festival period, music tableaus with Hindi and English music bands will move across Jamshedpur, giving performances in areas where people congregate, adding to the spirit of festivity. A Neo-classical / Fusion musical concert will be hosted at the XLRI auditorium on January 3rd, 2008 with some of India’s leading artists. A ‘Shatrang Mela’ – a city fair will be inaugurated on January 2nd, 2008. The festival will conclude with a concert at JRD Sports Complex for the people of Jamshedpur with India’s leading performers, Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan and Loy along with Mahalakshmi Iyer. Sharing the stage will be one of Jamshedpur’s famous exports R Madhawan, along with a number of youngsters who have made a mark in the music shows on TV.

Shatrang -the festival of Jamshedpur is only the beginning of the celebrations. A separate programme for the ‘Founder’s Day Week’ has also been planned apart from the mega function to commemorate the Centenary and other activities till August 2008.