Russi M. Lal started his career in journalism in 1948 at the age of nineteen. In 1959, he became the manager of the first Indian book publishing house in London and in 1964 he founded (with Rajmohan Gandhi) Himmat Weekly, which he edited for a decade. His first book, The Creation of Wealth, was published to critical and commercial acclaim in 1981. This was followed by other books, including Beyond the Last Blue Mountain: A Life of J.R.D Tata (1992), Celebration of the Cells: Letters from a Cancer Survivor (1999) and A Touch of Greatness: Encounters with the Eminent (2001). R.M. Lala’s books have been translated into several languages, including Japanese. He was the director of Tata’s premier trust, Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, for eighteen years, as well as the co-founder and chairman of the Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy.