Nusli Wadia’s final duel

The exit of younger son Jeh has left a void, both in the family and the business. The patriarch now has to limit the damage to the over two centuries old group.

To the outside world it looked like Nusli Wadia, who turned 77 in February, had settled the handover of the family legacy to his two sons: Ness Nusli Wadia and Jehangir Nusli Wadia. 

There were two parts to the inheritance. One was the Wadia Group, which housed the family business that traced its roots back to over two centuries. Both Ness and Jehangir—or Jeh as he was referred to—were on the boards of most of the group companies. But there was a difference. While Ness had donned executive roles, including at Bombay Dyeing, it was clear that younger brother Jeh …