Mumbai: Ratan Tata, one of India’s most respected industrialists and philanthropists, passed away at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai on Wednesday. He was 86. His death marks the end of an era for the Tata Group and Indian business at large, leaving behind a legacy of innovation, integrity, and service to the nation.
Former chairman of the Tata Group, Ratan Tata was known for his shyness and preference for privacy, yet his impact on Indian business and philanthropy was anything but quiet. During his tenure, which spanned over two decades until his retirement in 2012, he transformed the Tata Group from a largely domestic operation into a global conglomerate, acquiring iconic brands like Jaguar, Land Rover, Corus, and Tetley.
Born on December 28, 1937, to Naval Tata and Sunu Commissariat, Ratan Tata’s childhood was marked by challenges, including his parents’ separation when he was 7 years old. Raised by his grandmother, Nawazbai Tata, alongside his younger brother Jimmy, Tata persevered and excelled in his studies. He earned a degree in architecture from Cornell University in 1962 and later completed an Advanced Management Programme at Harvard Business School in 1975. At the behest of JRD Tata, he turned down a position at IBM to join the family business.
His journey at Tata Group began on the shop floor of Tata Steel, where he worked as a trainee, digging limestone and handling blast furnaces. By the late 1970s, he was managing companies like the National Radio and Electronics Company (NELCO) and Empress Mills, gaining experience in various industries. In 1991, he succeeded JRD Tata as chairman of Tata Sons, becoming the fourth generation to lead the family business.
Ratan Tata’s vision modernised and rejuvenated the Tata Group. He rebranded TISCO and TELCO as Tata Steel and Tata Motors, respectively, and oversaw key acquisitions that elevated the company to new heights on the global stage. Under his leadership, the Tata Group’s revenues soared, and he fulfilled the dream of affordable personal transport for millions of Indians with the launch of the Tata Nano, the world’s cheapest car.
Despite his many successes, the Tata Group also faced significant challenges, including mounting debt and pressures on its telecom business following the 2G scam. However, Tata’s leadership helped navigate these difficult times.
After stepping down as chairman in 2012, Tata continued to lead the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust, which together hold a 66% stake in Tata Sons. His tenure ended with the group’s total sales at an impressive ₹4.51 trillion — 43 times what they were when he first took the helm in 1991. However, relations between Tata and his successor, Cyrus Mistry, deteriorated, leading to Mistry’s ousting in 2016. N Chandrasekaran, formerly of TCS, now leads the Tata Group.
Ratan Tata’s contributions were recognised with numerous honours, including the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008, two of India’s highest civilian awards. He was also named the 26th Robert S. Hatfield Fellow in Economic Education by Cornell University, and 15 institutions across the world awarded him honorary doctorates in fields ranging from engineering to business management.
His passing is a great loss to India, but his legacy of business excellence, ethical leadership, and philanthropy will continue to inspire generations to come.