End of an Era: Tata Workers’ Union Mourns Death of Mentor Jaydev Upadhyay
Jamshedpur: Basant Panchami celebrations at the Tata Workers’ Union (TWU) office turned tragic on Friday morning following the sudden death of Jaydev Upadhyay (71), Director of the Michael John Centre and former senior official of Tata Steel.
Upadhyay, a widely respected figure in industrial relations and labour education, collapsed during the Saraswati Puja programme at the TWU premises around 10 am. According to eyewitnesses, he complained of severe chest pain while participating in the rituals and was immediately rushed to Tata Main Hospital (TMH) by union officials and colleagues.
Hospital sources said that Upadhyay lost consciousness while explaining his symptoms to doctors. Despite continuous emergency medical intervention, including nearly an hour of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), doctors were unable to revive him. He was declared dead shortly thereafter.
Family sources revealed that Upadhyay had been experiencing chest discomfort since early morning. He reportedly informed his wife that he would first attend the Saraswati Puja and seek medical consultation afterward. The delay in seeking immediate medical attention is believed to have proved fatal.
A former Senior Manager in the Human Resources Management (HRM) department of Tata Steel, Upadhyay had devoted his post-retirement years to worker education and leadership development. For the past decade, he served as Director of the Michael John Centre, the training and educational arm of the Tata Workers’ Union, where he played a pivotal role in capacity building and labour leadership training.
The news of his sudden demise sent shockwaves across the industrial and labour fraternity in Jamshedpur. Tata Workers’ Union President Sanjeev Choudhary (Tunnu), General Secretary Satish Singh, Deputy President Shailesh Singh, Vice President Shahnawaz Alam, and other senior office-bearers rushed to TMH to extend support to the bereaved family.
“He was a distinguished human resources professional and an exceptional mentor. His contribution to worker education and union training will be remembered for years,” said a senior TWU office-bearer.
Upadhyay’s death has left a deep void in the Tata Workers’ Union and the city’s labour ecosystem. Colleagues and associates remembered him as a man of integrity, humility, and unwavering commitment to the welfare and education of workers.
