INDICA, THE MODEL THAT IGNITED INDIA

The Indica was India's first indigenously engineered car that had a good run and was pitched as a car with the mileage of a diesel and interiors of an Amby.

- BRIAN DE SOUZA

It was the year 1998, and the Auto Expo in Delhi had the Who's Who present when Tata Motors, a company associated with bulky trucks and boxy SUVs till then displayed its first passenger car offering. The Indica, as it was christened, was designed by IDEA of Italy, but engineered in India. And it was at this very show that the Fiat Palio was also displayed drawing comparisons to the Indica, and there were more than casual remarks that the design may have been copied or cloned.

The Indica launch was a spectacular affair with a Ukrainian ballet troupe in attendance. It was Ratan Tata's defining moment and he expressed his feelings: "The path we chose was criticised by those who said such a task could not be undertaken by us. Having undertaken that, we now have a car that reflects the dedication and enthusiasm of the entire Telco team of young engineers." Murasoli Maran, the minister for heavy industries at the time and a special invitee, called the house of Tatas 'the Kohinoor of India'.