Ratan Naval Tata, the Indian industrialist who has been credited with transforming the Tata Group, died aged 86.
He had been in the intensive care of a hospital in Mumbai.
“It is with a profound sense of loss that we bid farewell to Mr. Ratan Naval Tata, a truly uncommon leader whose immeasurable contributions have shaped not only the Tata Group but also the very fabric of our nation,” the Tata Group said in a statement.
“Mr. Tata’s dedication to philanthropy and the development of society has touched the lives of millions. From education to healthcare, his initiatives have left a deep-rooted mark that will benefit generations to come. Reinforcing all of this work was Mr. Tata’s genuine humility in every individual interaction,” said N Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Group.
Tributes pour in
Tributes poured in from across the globe as news of Ratan Tata’s passing spread. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed him as a “visionary business leader, a compassionate soul, and an extraordinary human being”.
“Shri Ratan Tata Ji was a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being. He provided stable leadership to one of India’s oldest and most prestigious business houses. At the same time, his contribution went far beyond the boardroom. He endeared himself to several people thanks to his humility, kindness and an unwavering commitment to making our society better,” Modi wrote on social media platform X.
Anand Mahindra, chairperson of Mahindra Group, said it was difficult to accept “the absence of Ratan Tata”.
“India’s economy stands on the cusp of a historic leap forward. And Ratan’s life and work have had much to do with our being in this position. Hence, his mentorship and guidance at this point in time would have been invaluable. With him gone, all we can do is to commit to emulating his example. Because he was a businessman for whom financial wealth and success was most useful when it was put to the service of the global community,” he wrote.
Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, said Tata’s passing away was a big loss “not just to the Tata Group, but to every Indian”.
“At a personal level, the passing of Ratan Tata has filled me with immense grief as I lost a dear friend. Each of my numerous interactions with him left me inspired and energized and enhanced my respect for the nobility of his character and the fine human values he embodied. Ratan Tata was a visionary industrialist and a philanthropist, who always strove for society’s greater good. With the demise of Mr Ratan Tata, India has lost one of her most illustrious and kind-hearted sons,” Ambani wrote.
UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds described Ratan Tata as a “titan of the business world” who “played a huge role in shaping British industry”.
Impact on Indian Industry
Ratan Tata’s impact on Indian industry is immeasurable. As the chairman of Tata Sons, he played a key role in shaping the group’s expansion into new industries, including automotive and information technology. His vision and leadership transformed the Tata Group into a global powerhouse, with a presence in over 100 countries. Ratan Tata’s commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship in India helped create a thriving ecosystem for startups and entrepreneurs.
Under his leadership, the Tata Group made significant investments in research and development, leading to breakthroughs in various fields, including automotive, steel, and information technology. Ratan Tata’s emphasis on quality and customer satisfaction helped establish the Tata brand as a symbol of excellence in India and globally.
Early years
Ratan Tata was born to Naval and Soonoo Tata on December 28, 1937. He and his younger brother, Jimmy, were brought up by their grandmother, Navajbai R Tata.
He was schooled at Campion and then at Cathedral and John Connon (both in Bombay, now Mumbai), where he spent the last three of his schooling years.
After school, he went to Cornell University in the United States, where he studied architecture and structural engineering. It is said that he was almost ready to settle down in Los Angeles.
Back to India
Tata returned to India when Navajbai’s health deteriorated.
In 1962, he was offered a job with Tata Industries, the promoter company of the group. He went on to spend six months at Telco, now called Tata Motors, before joining Tisco, now Tata Steel, in 1963.
Ratan Tata’s life: A quick snapshot
Here’s a timeline of Ratan Tata’s life
- 1937: Ratan Tata is born to Soonoo and Naval Tata.
- 1955: Leaves for Cornell University (Ithaca, New York, USA) at age 17. Goes on to study architecture and engineering over a seven-year period.
- 1962: Awarded bachelor of architecture degree.
- 1962: Joins the Tata group as an assistant in Tata Industries. Later in the year, spends six months training at the Jamshedpur plant of Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company (now called Tata Motors).
- 1963: Moves to Tata Iron and Steel Company, or Tisco (now called Tata Steel), at its Jamshedpur facility for a training programme.
- 1965: Is appointed technical officer in Tisco’s engineering division.
- 1969: Works as the Tata group’s resident representative in Australia.
- 1970: Returns to India, joins Tata Consultancy Services, then a software fledgling, for a short stint.
- 1971: Is named director-in-charge of National Radio and Electronics (better known as Nelco), an ailing electronics enterprise.
- 1974: Joins the board of Tata Sons as a director.
- 1975: Completes the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
- 1981: Is appointed chairman of Tata Industries. Begins the process of transforming it into a promoter of high-technology businesses.
- 1983: Drafts the Tata strategic plan.
- 1986-1989: Serves as chairman of Air India, the national carrier.
- March 25, 1991: Takes over from JRD Tata as chairman of Tata Sons and chairman of the Tata trusts.
- 1991: Begins restructuring of the Tata group at a time when the liberalization of the Indian economy is underway.
- 2000 onwards: The growth and globalization drive of the Tata group gathers pace under his stewardship and the new millennium sees a string of high-profile Tata acquisitions, among them Tetley, Corus, Jaguar Land Rover, Brunner Mond, General Chemical Industrial Products and Daewoo.
- 2008: Launches the Tata Nano, born of the trailblazing small car project he guided and commanded.
- 2008: Is awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second-highest civilian honour, by the Government of India.
- December 2012: Steps down as chairman of Tata Sons after 50 years with the Tata group, is appointed chairman emeritus of Tata Sons.
- October 2024: Passes away at the age of 86.
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