“I may have hurt some people along the way, but I would like to be seen as somebody who has done his best to do the right thing for any situation and not compromised”.
Sir Ratan Tata
Dear friends,
Just before the world prepared to sleep yesterday night, its slumber was broken with perhaps one of the most heartbreaking news.
Yes, The TITAN or Sir Ratan Naval Tata an Indian Industrialist, philanthropist and former Chairman of TATA Group went into deep eternal slumber leaving the whole world bereaved and grieving.
HE was admitted in Mumbai’s famous Breach Candy Hospital for a dangerous drop in Blood Pressure and could not be revived.
Born on 28th December 1937 to Naval and Sooni Tata, in a Parsi priestly family hailing originally from Baroda (Gujarat), the great grandson of Sir Jamshet ji Tata, Sir Ratan Tata was not only a well-known industrialist who led the business conglomerate for decades, serving as Chairman of TATA Sons from 1991 to 2012 but he had also set India on a path to progress and development through his visionary leadership. He had also formed various charitable trusts working for the society 24/7 and had donated about 60-65% of his income towards social causes.
The recipient of Padma Bhushan (2000), Padma Vibhushan (2008), Sir Ratan Tata had graduated from Cornell University College of Architecture and joined the TATA group in 1961. He later succeeded Sh. J.R.D. TATA as the chairman of the group.
He was conferred upon various state civilian honors like Maharashtra Bhushan in 2006 for his contribution in public administration in Maharashtra state and Assam Baibhav in 2021 for his exceptional contribution towards providing cancer care in Assam.
He once said, “the greatest satisfaction is in achieving something that others said you couldn’t” and he proved it. Under his visionary leadership TATA group acquired Tetley, Jaguar, Land Rover and Corus marking TATA’s footprints on the global platform. Under his banner, the group became synonymous with innovation, adaptability and excellence across various industries including steel, automobiles, telecommunications and hospitality and the group’s revenues skyrocketed more than 40 times its initial worth.
The story of sweet revenge:
It is said that within a year of having launched Tata Indica, India’s first indigenous car and Tata’s dream project, it almost failed. Indica had failed to take off. Due to low sales TATA Group decide to sell their car business and to strike a deal, he and his team flew to U.S. to meet Bill Ford, Chairman of Ford Group in 1999. It is said that TATA was humiliated during that meeting. Ford said to him that he knew nothing about automobile industry and manufacturing cars and he shouldn’t even have thought of entering in such a venture and that Ford was doing a favor to him by buying his Tata Car Unit. The deal didn’t strike somehow and this experience made Tata more focused on his goals. He decided against selling his cars division. And they say that karma returns you back what you’ve sowed. In 2008, Ford was on the verge of bankruptcy during great recession. Tata seized this opportunity to acquire JLR, including their manufacturing divisions, design centers and intellectual property rights. Applying cost control, improving liquidity and introducing new products, the company became profitable by 2009.
Today Tata motors is a leading global automobile manufacturer having 104 direct and indirect subsidiaries worldwide including Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Daewoo. This is not just a story of revenge but massive success too. From scratch he built an empire in the automobile industry by sheer dedication. He had always dreamt of even a middle-class Indian possessing his own four-wheeler and he realized this dream by launching TATA NANO, the world’s cheapest car.
He was also a prolific investor and had invested in several start-ups in his personal capacity. Reaching him was simple. And he believed in young minds and granting them the right to dream.
Replying to a reporter on being asked once that why he wasn’t in the list of richest Indians, Sir Ratan Tata called himself an Industrialist rather than a business man like Ambani or Adani. Also, he said that he dreamt of India as a happy nation rather than an economic super power.
Despite his extensive business empire, he was never listed a billionaire. The reason for one of the most respected Industrialist in India and abroad not being present in the world’s richest list is his massive investment in philanthropist activities supporting health, education art and culture. He was known for his modest life style, setting him apart. He was often referred to as a “secular living saint” highlighting his decency and integrity.
Hospitals like Tata Cancer research institute, Tata education trust and Tata social welfare trust stand as a testament to his pure soul.
Sir Ratan Tata was also a licensed pilot and was the first Indian to fly an F-16 Falcon in 2007. He was passionate about cars and had a deep love for animals, particularly dogs.
“The day I can’t do something for myself will be the day I will pack my bags and leave”. And the 9th of October was that unfortunate day when This Giant called Sir Ratan Tata finally packed his bags and departed leaving a vacuum in the business world as well as the parallel world of empathy, sympathy, kindness and care of fellow-beings.
With heavy hearts, the world is bidding him adieu, whether our business leaders or the common man, all have a reason to shed a tear in his memory and are pouring in their last tributes to the legend.
“Shri Ratan Tata was a visionary leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being. He provided stable leadership to India’s oldest and most prestigious business houses. At the same time his contribution went far beyond the boardroom. He endeared several people, thanks to his humility, kindness and unwavering commitment to making our society better”, tweeted
Prime minister Narendra Modi
His death marks the end of an era. He has left a strong legacy behind himself that will be remembered for generations to come.
He once said, “I admire the people who are very successful but if that success has been achieved through too much ruthlessness, then I may admire that person less”.
Such a beautiful thought. Success at the cost of happiness of others doesn’t really mean.
Isn’t it?
Such was his personality that even in the wildest of his dreams he couldn’t even think about harming someone for personal greed.
His latest initiative, ‘The Goodfellows’, service for senior citizens, where he hired young educated graduates from different backgrounds who have an affection towards the elderly and look forward to creating meaningful bonds with them to look after the senior citizens left to live alone in this world is an example of how far his vision was for the society.
He always believed in returning back more than what he got from the society. And he continued doing so till the last breath of his life.
My reverence to his pure soul.
Physical body ceases to exist but the soul stays somewhere in this vast universe and Sir Ratan Tata’s soul will always be there to guide young minds and put them on a virtuous path.
He is an example of excellence, vision, determination, dedication amalgamated with love, sympathy, kindness and humanity.
Though he ceased to exist between us physically yesterday onwards but he will remain immortal for generations to come because of the life that he has led and because of what he has given to the society.
“Take the stones people throw at you and use them to build a monument”.
Sure Sir, for generations we shall remember your words and try to walk on the path shown by you to build a better nation and a much better society.
Long Live Sir Ratan Tata, The visionary and his views.
Ashu Verma Chaubey
The Momma Clan 
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