Ratan Tata, one of India’s most famous business leaders, has passed away at the age of 86, as announced by Tata Group. Tata led the company for over 20 years and helped it grow into one of India’s biggest businesses, earning over $100 billion a year.
According to BBC, Tata was widely respected across the world, and his influence stretched far beyond India.
In a statement, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, the current chairman of Tata Sons, expressed deep sadness, calling Tata a “truly unique leader” whose legacy will continue to inspire the company.
BBC also reports that Tata Group made several important deals under his leadership, such as buying British car brands Jaguar and Land Rover, the tea company Tetley, and Corus, a major steel company.
UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said Tata was a giant in the business world, especially for how he helped shape British industry.
A profile in The Economist magazine from 2011 described Tata as a “titan,” saying that although he owned less than 1% of the company, he was still one of the most influential businessmen in India and around the world.
Tata retired in 2012 but remained an important figure as chairman emeritus. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to him on social media, calling him a visionary leader and a compassionate human being. BBC notes that Modi shared many personal memories and said he was deeply saddened by Tata’s death.
Born into a Parsi family in 1937, Ratan Tata studied in the U.S. before joining Tata Industries in 1962, starting from the bottom and training in the company’s steel plant. BBC mentions that Tata’s most important role came in 1991 when he succeeded JRD Tata, who had been like a father figure and mentor to him. In 2008, Ratan Tata received India’s second-highest civilian honor, the Padma Vibhushan.
While known for his business achievements, Tata also had a softer, more personal side. He loved fast cars and planes, enjoyed scuba diving, and had a deep affection for dogs.
In an interview from 2021, as noted by BBC, he spoke about how each dog he had was special to him, and though he felt sad when they passed, he always found himself adopting new ones after a few years.
Despite his wealth and status, BBC adds that Tata was praised for his modesty. In 2022, a video of him driving the Nano car, one of Tata’s more ambitious yet unsuccessful projects, went viral, reminding people of his simplicity.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjd5835mp4ko