India, March 3 -- On March 3, as India marks the birth anniversary of Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, it is worth reflecting on a question that remains strikingly relevant more than 150 years after he laid the foundations of the Tata enterprise: Why do some companies endure for generations, while others fade despite early success?

Jamsetji Tata did not build businesses merely to manufacture goods or generate profit. He believed enterprise was a means to strengthen the nation, advance science and education, and improve the lives of people. That belief - a deeply held sense of purpose - continues to shape the Tata Group more than a century later. It also offers a powerful lens through which to understand corporate longevity.

Purpose is often s...