Culture

Chanakya Chaudhary, vice-president of corporate service, Tata Steel.

In 1988, when Chanakya Chaudhary joined Tata Steel as a young graduate, an engineer trainee, little did he know that he would have to climb mountains to pick up lessons on endurance, team spirit, and leadership.

Four years before Chaudhary came on board, the home-grown steel major had set up Tata Youth Adventure Centre, today popularly known as the Tata Steel Adventure Foundation. This was initiated by the legendary mountaineer Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman to climb Mt Everest. Chaudhary, who is the current vice-president of corporate service at Tata Steel, shares Tata Steel’s less-known legacy in sports with Storyboard18.

The company started Tata Youth Adventure Centre as an outbound leadership institute to push trainees to withstand unpredictable situations. Chaudhary and a team of trainees had to reach Uttarkashi through several tough treks. He admits, to date, it is one of the most challenging exercises he took up. The programme was extra special because of the presence of the legendary mountaineer (Pal). She never let them give up, even when an avalanche hit their trail. The journey to Uttarkashi taught Chaudhary and his team lessons that they would never have got in a closed-door induction session. Since then he believes “Sports is a way of life.”

The  JRD Tata Sports Complex was inaugurated March 2, 1991.

Steel and Sports

Tata Steel was established in India as Asia’s first integrated private steel company in 1907. Over the last century, the company has made several historic marks in the area of sports. In 1920, Tata Steel’s first chairman Sir Dorabji Tata personally financed the first Indian team for the Antwerp Olympics 1920. That was 27 years before India even got its Independence. The six-member all-male team had four athletes and two wrestlers.

Since then, the company has encouraged and invested in talent and provided infrastructural support. Chaudhary says the brand has been mindful and has believed in the power of inclusivity and diversity. For instance, in 1927 Tata Steel established the Jamshedpur Athletic Club and started sports competitions for working men, women and their children. “We started working on areas like workplace ergonomics, keeping in check work-life balance, much before they became buzzwords. We believe sports has been helping us to bridge several need gaps,” adds Chaudhary.

So, with the credentials and work to back it up, why doesn’t Tata Steel actively promote and advertise its sports initiatives? Chaudhary says, “The company doesn’t believe in beating their own trumpet. We think we are a doer brand and we like our work to speak for itself.”

The only time Tata Steel advertised its contribution to sports was in the year 1989. The brand’s ‘We Also Make Steel’ ad campaign was one of its kind to highlight a company’s social welfare initiatives and not its products and services. It was a TV commercial that touched on Tata Steel’s contribution across several spheres – from technology and education to agriculture, sports, defence and social welfare.

An eye for opportunities

Over the years, though Tata Steel has supported individual sports personalities, the brand has moved on to support individual sports. Chaudhary says this strategy has helped the brand to create platforms that will enable sportspersons to generate livelihood in the long run and of course help them represent the country on a global stage. He says this is like an ‘end-to-end’ solution that the brand is offering to nurture the sports culture.

Not a one-sport nation

The company also invests in sports beyond the national favorite – cricket. For instance, in 1987, Tata Football Academy (TFA), the first-of-its-kind residential football academy in the country, was launched. Tata Archery Academy was established in 1996, and has produced many champions like Deepika Kumari , Jayanta Talukdar, Atanu Das, Limba Ram, who have represented India in the Olympic games.

In 2017, Tata Steel Hockey Academy was established in Jamshedpur and Bhubaneshwar. The company also runs training centres in 19 different sporting disciplines at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur that trains approximately 2,500 children every year.

Chess was added to the roster in 2018. The company has a long-standing association with chess, having been the main sponsor of the famous chess tournament at Wijkaan Zee, The Netherlands, which is one of the most prestigious events in the international chess calendar.

A recent addition is climbing. The company has launched India’s first sports climbing academy. Sports climbing debuted in Tokyo Olympics 2021 and will subsequently feature in Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028.

Chaudhary says it’s a massive opportunity, and the brand is focused to develop a complete ecosystem for sports climbing – from grassroots to academy to professional athletes.

Bachendri Pal became the first Indian woman to climb Mt Everest in 1984.

Keeping the promise alive

At a time when cricket still takes the biggest bite out of many marketers’ ad budgets, Chaudhary says, there are many sports events that have sprung up over the last few years – from badminton, volleyball, handball to chess, pushing boundaries and giving confidence to players to build their careers around it.

Chaudhary says the biggest contribution that India Inc. can make is to create enough sports infrastructure, that’s for the long run. It creates a pipeline to support sportspersons in a much larger way. “If more corporates do their bit to create infrastructure, the overall sports ecosystem will take care of itself,” he adds.

That apart, he also points out that there is a common misconception in the corporate world that CSR funds should be invested in sports. He has a different take. “Some bit of the CSR funds can be used for sports development initiatives but there are other priorities that need the money and attention. Bigger brands can’t park all their CSR funds for sports.”

Nine athletes from Tata Steel participated in the 1982 Asiad.

SNAPSHOT: Tata Steel’s Sports Legacy

– Tata Steel was established in India as Asia’s first integrated private steel company in 1907. The company is 115-years-old.

– Sir Dorabji Tata, the company’s first chairman, financed India’s first Olympic team to Antwerp, Belgium, in 1920.

– Tata Steel established the Jamshedpur Athletic Club in 1927 and started sports competitions for working men, women and their children.

– The company set up Tata Youth Adventure Centre, today known as the Tata Steel Adventure Foundation. This was initiated by the legendary mountaineer Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman to climb Mt. Everest in 1984.

Tata Steel introduced Super Soccer in 1984.

– In 1987, Tata Football Academy (TFA), the first-of-its-kind residential football academy in the country was launched.

– Of the 252 sportsmen who have graduated, so far, from TFA, 150 have represented the country, with 19 of them having captained the national team across various age groups. In 2017, for the first time, the brand ventured into the commercial aspect of sports by starting the Jamshedpur Football Club (JFC), which competes in India’s premier football League, the ISL.

– In 1989, Tata Steel launched the ‘We Also Make Steel’ campaign – one of the first brands in the country to highlight its social welfare initiatives and not its products and services. It was a TV campaign that touched on the company’s contribution across several spheres – from technology and education to agriculture, sports, defence and social welfare.

– Tata Archery Academy was established in 1996 and has produced many champions like Deepika Kumari, Jayanta Talukdar, Atanu Das, Limba Ram, to name a few, who have represented India in the Olympic games.

– In 2017, Tata Steel Hockey Academy was launched in Jamshedpur and Bhubaneshwar.

– Tata Steel also runs training centres in 19 different sporting disciplines at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur that trains approximately 2,500 children every year.

– Tata Steel Chess India was instituted in 2018. The company has a long-standing association with chess, having been the main sponsor of the famous chess tournament at Wijkaan Zee, The Netherlands, which is one of the most prestigious events in the international chess calendar.

– Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) Sports Climbing Academy is India’s first sports climbing academy.

Rural market – Thanh Toan tile-roofed bridge (Photo: thuathienhue.gov.vn)

By Van Thang – Translated by Kim Khanh

NFL star Patrick Mahomes and Nascar driver Bubba Wallace have joined the growing list of athletes investing in a third fund led by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz.

The firm, known as a16z, launched its third Cultural Leadership Fund, or CLF, which has the goal of growing Black wealth through ownership of future technology companies. The fund also attracted NBA player Blake Griffin, WNBA stars Nneka Ogwumike and Maya Moore, and NFL running back Leonard Fournette, as well as music producer Pharrell Williams and pop star The Weeknd.

CLF’s investment portfolio includes equity stakes in blockchain company Dapper Labs, video game developer Roblox and publishing platform Substack. A16z said the fund has raised over $60 million since 2018.

In a statement sent to Forbes , Wallace called CLF “important work” as its purpose is to enhance “access and equity for Black communities in tech.”

Diversity in the tech sector remains an ongoing issue. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission estimates Black people make up only 7.4% of the tech workforce . White people make up 68.5%, Asians represent 14%, and Hispanics make up 7.9%.

Wallace, who has become the face of Nascar’s diversity push, told Forbes that he’s witnessed “how powerful representation can be to inspire and engage future generations.” Wallace added that the fund provides “a front-row seat to the technology shaping our future, but also to have an impact on increasing Black representation and ownership in tech.”

In 2018, A16z launched the first CLF with investors including Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant, hip-hop stars Sean Combs and Nas, and legendary composer Quincy Jones. A16z launched CLF II in June 2021 .

The fund targets Black cultural influencers in sports, music and business and co-invests in a16z portfolio companies, including a variety of tech startups. In addition, a16z said it donated more than $2.5 million in management fees and earnings associated with the CLF to nonprofit organizations with the mission of improving diversity in the tech sector.

A16z says it has more than $33 billion in assets under management. That includes funds with investments in multibillion-dollar-valuation companies , including crypto platform Coinbase, e-commence company Fanatics and freight platform Flexport.

In a blog post announcing the third fund, a16z partner Megan Holston-Alexander called CLF III investors “true representations of cultural leadership” who are “excited about technology, curious about the innovation process, and want to play a role in building the future.”

This is an edited excerpt taken from Travel Anywhere (and avoid being a tourist) by Jeralyn Gerba and Pavia Rosati, founders of travel website Fathom , published by Hardie Grant Books.

Getting away from it all. It’s the ultimate travel fantasy.

But the reality is too often the opposite. WiFi at airports and hotels used to be a really terrific travel perk; nowadays, it’s become a travel essential, like free water or snacks in the mini-bar. There are positive aspects to staying connected, but it comes at a cost. Because while we may not physically be at home or in the office, global connectivity means we’re still tethered to everything — the deadlines, the requests, the inter-office banter — that we got on a plane to escape in the first place.

Sure, we could put the phone in the bottom of the suitcase and ignore it, but most of us don’t have that discipline. Let me just post one photo to Instagram! And check my voicemail while I’m here. Oh, I want to send a quick email. And read that news development.

You see the point: We are usually powerless to resist.

This is why being forced to get offline and out of the box is becoming an increasingly popular travel option. These off-grid trips and expeditions may not be filled with the usual creature comforts (and you may have to take an occasional cold shower), but the memories, landscapes, and cultural exchanges will be breathtaking and unforgettable. And isn’t that so much nicer than yet another hour wasted scrolling through Facebook?

JOIN A RUSSIAN REINDEER EXPEDITION , Russia and Siberia

Intrepid, the veteran global adventure company, offers an offbeat 15-day adventure not for the faint of heart or mind. The small group trip of four to twelve people begins in St. Petersburg with a Wifi-free, 47-hour train ride (25 on the Trans-Polar Railway), bus adventure, and Russian six-wheeled amphibious all-terrain vehicle joyride to reach well beyond the Arctic Circle, to the Yamal Peninsula, where travelers are welcomed into a tribe of nomadic reindeer herders called the Nenets. Reindeer sledding, fishing, and

snowmobiling on the frozen tundra ensues. Not to mention camaraderie with the nomads and learning life-saving tricks, like how to stay warm in -50-degree weather.

Good to know : No flushing toilets, no cell service, and no WiFi. “Roughing it” might be an understatement.

SLUMBER IN A FIELD OF LIGHTNING , New Mexico, U.S.A.

Life imitates art in this off-the-grid installation in a mysterious desert location in New Mexico’s Catron County, 7,200 feet above sea level. A group of up to six are picked up at a designated place and driven to a cabin in an undisclosed location to take part in an overnight experience of Land Art by the American sculptor Walter De Maria. The Lightning Field consists of 400 polished stainless-steel poles stretched across the high desert, a grid measuring 1 mile by 0.6 miles. Visitors are encouraged to walk around the field, especially during sunset and sunrise, whether there’s a lightning storm or not, to take in the mind-altering effect of the sun’s rays on the metal poles and the charred earth from lightning strikes. Back at the cabin, simple meals and lodging are provided, along with books and an emergency phone. No other devices allowed.

Good to know : Visiting slots have filled up quickly since the launch of the work in 1977. Book early and pack sturdy shoes.

GO BACK TO GROUND ZERO AT THE RANCH , Malibu, California, U.S.A

Go back to hardcore basics in pursuit of a healthy mind, body, and soul. The sprawling 1920s hacienda-style estate, a former summer camp, sits on 100-plus acres and has been transformed into 14 well-appointed private cabins with common areas, indoor and outdoor dining areas, two workout facilities, and a year-round organic farm. There is no

cell service and WiFI is limited to in-room use. You should make this an unplugged boot camp for personal excavation. Plus, you’ll need to pay attention to your hydration needs while taking a mega hike or holding a sunrise chaturanga. Depending on which program you opt into, days will be filled with fitness regimes, wellness support, and a monastic meal plan.

Good to know: Sustainability is key in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and whether you visit the ranch for four, seven, or ten days, the journey begins 30 days prior with a series of suggested exercises, dietary restrictions, and living assignments to prepare you for the mega detoxing on site.

SPEND THE NIGHT IN A SKYBED IN THE OKAVANGO DELTA , Khwai Private Reserve, Botswana

Two lodges in the middle of the African wilderness can be combined for a multi-night sleeping adventure through the Natural Selection safari group. Skybeds camp is comprised of three-story rustic platforms in the trees overlooking a watering hole frequented by giraffes, wildebeest, and elephants. After a night or two spent close to the stars, travelers can move to sister camp Sable Alley, a more luxurious (but no more

technologically connected) lagoonside tented accommodation with an Afro-chic indoor seating area, double bed, and writing desk for recording animal sightings and feelings of awe.

Good to know : Invite your friends. The camp can accommodate parties of up to six people. (Just no children under the age of 12.)

PADDLE TO YOUR HEART’S CONTENT IN THE FROZEN OCEAN CANOE TRE K, Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia, Canada

A real get-your-hands-dirty camping experience. Whynot Adventure leads three-day backcountry expeditions on canoes to different campsites, allowing travelers to experience the wilderness of this eastern Canada maritime province. Paddlers

are given a tent, camping equipment, easy-to-make dishes, and freshly ground coffee each morning. Days are spent moving from picturesque lakes and rivers that connect lovely campsites, a neat experience for adventurous families and groups of friends.

Good to know : The experience is only for those who are up to and capable of physical activity for multiple hours.

WALK ON THE WILD SIDE IN ZAMBIA , South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

A pioneer of the guided walking safari, Robin Pope has been leading small groups into the African wilderness for decades. On this seven-day trek, guests cover about 6 miles on foot per day along the Mupamadzi River, with guides setting up a full-service, portable camp at each day’s end. Travelers pad lightly in search of elephants, leopards, buffalo, rare birds, and giraffes, with local guides skilled in navigating on foot.

Good to know : Meals (and wine) are provided on portable dining tables with tablecloths. Full bedding is set up under walk-in tents lit by lanterns and the moon. The experience is luxurious despite being totally cut off from technology and indoor showers. The shower is under a tree, and the toilet, if you’re wondering, is a bush loo with a wooden throne.

This is an edited excerpt taken from Travel Anywhere (and avoid being a tourist) by Jeralyn Gerba and Pavia Rosati, founders of travel website Fathom, published by Hardie Grant Books. Jeralyn Gerba and Pavia Rosati constantly criss-cross the globe in search of the new and the timeless, the celebrated and the undiscovered. They launched Fathom to connect passionate travelers to the world’s best places, people, and experiences. What began as an editorial website is now an award-winning travel platform with digital guides, a consulting division, and a concierge service.