THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830 Ratan Naval Tata was an Indian industrialist and philanthropist. He served as the chairman of Tata Group and Tata Sons from 1991 to 2012 and he held the position of interim chairman from October 2016 to February 2017. Wikipedia

Born: 28 December 1937, Mumbai

Died: 9 October 2024 (age 86 years), Breach Candy Hospital Trust, Mumbai

Education: Harvard Business School (1975) · See more

Parents: Naval Tata, Sooni Tata

Siblings: Noel Tata, Jimmy Naval Tata

Organization founded: Tata Housing Development Company

Awards: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, CNN-IBN Indian of the Year in Business.

THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830 Ratan Tata died earlier this month but his life and his contributions to Indian industry will continue to inspire generations. One snapshot of his life has been captured by his official biographer, Thomas Mathew, whose book, ‘Ratan Tata: A Life’, was released recently.

Mr Mathew spoke to NDTV on Friday about Mr Tata’s various successes, the biggest problems he faced and also gave insights into the corporate titan’s personal life – including a little-known fact about a serious girlfriend in Los Angeles – and his love for dogs. 

Mr Mathew, who is a former IAS officer and has also worked with stalwarts like former president Pranab Mukherjee, said he met Mr Tata for the first time in 1994-1995.

THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830 “He had taken over as the chairman of Tata Sons in 1991. As you know, Ratan Tata was probably one of the most good-looking industrialists… more than six feet tall, with hazel eyes, melding the colours of brown, green and gold. I still remember, on a Monday in 1995, he walked into my office – I was a private secretary to the industries minister at the time… When he walked in, it was something like a Greek god walking into the room, but what struck me was his humility. We kept in touch from then on,” he said. 

Early Years THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830

Mr Mathew said the biography, which is published by HarperCollins, is an effort to “unravel the complexities of a simple man”. The former IAS officer said Mr Tata did not “have a great childhood” but the strongest force in his early life was his grandmother, Lady Navajbai Tata.

“When he was young, his parents separated and that caused him a lot of agony. Not only was he shamed in school but, in those conservative settings, he was socially ostracised. But, a determined man and with the protection of his grandmother, he could withstand the challenge and he withstood it well,” he said. 

Mr Tata studied in a school called Riverdale in New York and Mr Mathew said the industrialist was unaware until he told him that it was the same institution in which John F Kennedy had done his early education. After he finished his schooling, he initially studied mechanical engineering, before shifting to architecture at Cornell. 

“He had a car, a black Mercedes, and he also took to flying. There are many stories revolving around the car and his daredevil flying skills… He used to go up into the sky, switch off the engine and scare his co-passengers. He left a lot of legends in Cornell and, in 1962, after he finished his Bachelor of Architecture course, he happened to write to one of the external examinees, who was a partner at a company called Jones & Emmons in Los Angeles,Architecture Job

The examiner asked him to visit Los Angeles, Mr Mathew said, and Emmons was so impressed with his thesis that he asked Mr Tata to work for him.

“Here was a young man being offered a job by one of the top architects of the US and he worked. It was also here that he fell in love and that was his first serious girlfriend that he wanted to marry, called Caroline Jones. But it was short-lived. In 1962, he wanted to come back because his mother was not keeping well.

He came back and Caroline was supposed to join him. In 1962, India was a distant place for Americans and the war with China (the same year) scared every American, so she did not have the guts to come to India,” Mr Mathew said. “So, over a period of time, it fizzled out and she subsequently got married to somebody who was incidentally like Ratan in many ways,” he added.

Focus On Trust THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830

To a question on Mr Tata’s biggest corporate achievement, the biographer said a string of contributions made the industrialist who he was. 

“In 1991, when he took over the Tata Group, it coincided with the economic liberalisation of India. This meant that industries protected by the licence raj were suddenly open to the turbulent winds of foreign corporate invasion. So this made his task very difficult,” he said.

Mr Mathew said stalwarts and veterans were heading large companies of the group like Tata Steel, Tata Motors and Tata Power, who had a mind of their own, and Mr Tata came up with a strategic plan that would define the Tata Group for the next three decades. This plan unveiled a set of 11 corporate initiatives, including the JRD Qualitative Value Award, which led to a reinvention of Tata companies and the group.

 “One of the most important initiatives he took was the formalisation of the Tata Code of Conduct, much before companies from many Western countries did it. And that was because of his passion for trust. He said anything bearing the name ‘Tata’ should immediately invoke in people a picture of quality and trust,” he said.

‘Loneliest Times’ THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830

The former IAS officer said the protests in West Bengal, which led to the Tata Nano factory being relocated from Singur to Sanand in Gujarat in 2008, and the legal battle with Cyrus Mistry were challenging but the situation which tested Mr Tata’s “patience, strength, courage and vision” was the strike at Tata Motors after he took over as the company’s chairman. THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830

“It was the biggest strike the Tata Group ever faced. When he took over as the chairman of Tata Motors in 1988, he was the chairman of one company, not the Tata Group. And the trade unionism, which was very violent, tested his patience and capacity. He says those were some of the loneliest times of his life. That is what tested every nerve of his,” he said. 

THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830

Mr Mathew said Ratan Tata got a Fox Terrier when he was 12 years old and while he was fond of him, his grandmother never liked the dog. 

Post a comment“And he always laughed when he said that when he left for the US to do his schooling, his grandmother got so fond of the dog and the dog got so fond of her that it would guard her as she slept. So, from then, he developed a liking for dogs and the rest is history,” he said.

Ratan Tata was a licensed pilot with a passion for flying and learned to fly in the 1960s. He earned his pilot’s license while studying at Cornell University and often flew small aircraft during his time there.

He even flew fighter jets on two occasions, in 2007 and 2011. In 2007, he co-piloted an F-16 fighter jet at the Aero India Show in Bengaluru at the age of 69 years.

The Padma Bhushan (2000) and Padma Vibhushan (2008) awardee was a regular visitor to Aero India, India’s premier airshow held biennially at Bengaluru’s Yelahanka Air Force Station.

He was often seen flying his company’s business jet.

Ratan Tata passed away on October 9, 2024, after he was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai in critical condition and was under intensive care. He died at the age of 86 due to age-related issues.

Also Read: Ratan Tata was a licensed pilot with a passion for flying and learned to fly in the 1960s. He earned his pilot’s license while studying at Cornell University and often flew small aircraft during his time there.

He even flew fighter jets on two occasions, in 2007 and 2011. In 2007, he co-piloted an F-16 fighter jet at the Aero India Show in Bengaluru at the age of 69 years.

The Padma Bhushan (2000) and Padma Vibhushan (2008) awardee was a regular visitor to Aero India, India’s premier airshow held biennially at Bengaluru’s Yelahanka Air Force Station.

He was often seen flying his company’s business jet.

Ratan Tata passed away on October 9, 2024, after he was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai in critical condition and was under intensive care. He died at the age of 86 due to age-related issues.

Also Read:Ratan Tata was a licensed pilot with a passion for flying and learned to fly in the 1960s. He earned his pilot’s license while studying at Cornell University and often flew small aircraft during his time there.

He even flew fighter jets on two occasions, in 2007 and 2011. In 2007, he co-piloted an F-16 fighter jet at the Aero India Show in Bengaluru at the age of 69 years.

The Padma Bhushan (2000) and Padma Vibhushan (2008) awardee was a regular visitor to Aero India, India’s premier airshow held biennially at Bengaluru’s Yelahanka Air Force Station.

He was often seen flying his company’s business jet.

Ratan Tata passed away on October 9, 2024, after he was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai in critical condition and was under intensive care. He died at the age of 86 due to age-related issues.

Also Read:Ratan Tata was a licensed pilot with a passion for flying and learned to fly in the 1960s. He earned his pilot’s license while studying at Cornell University and often flew small aircraft during his time there.

He even flew fighter jets on two occasions, in 2007 and 2011. In 2007, he co-piloted an F-16 fighter jet at the Aero India Show in Bengaluru at the age of 69 years.

The Padma Bhushan (2000) and Padma Vibhushan (2008) awardee was a regular visitor to Aero India, India’s premier airshow held biennially at Bengaluru’s Yelahanka Air Force Station.

He was often seen flying his company’s business jet.

Ratan Tata passed away on October 9, 2024, after he was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai in critical condition and was under intensive care. He died at the age of 86 due to age-related issues.

Also Read:

Ratan Tata was a licensed pilot with a passion for flying and learned to fly in the 1960s. He earned his pilot’s license while studying at Cornell University and often flew small aircraft during his time there.

He even flew fighter jets on two occasions, in 2007 and 2011. In 2007, he co-piloted an F-16 fighter jet at the Aero India Show in Bengaluru at the age of 69 years.

The Padma Bhushan (2000) and Padma Vibhushan (2008) awardee was a regular visitor to Aero India, India’s premier airshow held biennially at Bengaluru’s Yelahanka Air Force Station.

He was often seen flying his company’s business jet.

Ratan Tata passed away on October 9, 2024, after he was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai in critical condition and was under intensive care. He died at the age of 86 due to age-related issues.

Also Read: THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830

Ratan Tata was a licensed pilot with a passion for flying and learned to fly in the 1960s. He earned his pilot’s license while studying at Cornell University and often flew small aircraft during his time there.

He even flew fighter jets on two occasions, in 2007 and 2011. In 2007, he co-piloted an F-16 fighter jet at the Aero India Show in Bengaluru at the age of 69 years.

The Padma Bhushan (2000) and Padma Vibhushan (2008) awardee was a regular visitor to Aero India, India’s premier airshow held biennially at Bengaluru’s Yelahanka Air Force Station.

He was often seen flying his company’s business jet.

Ratan Tata passed away on October 9, 2024, after he was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai in critical condition and was under intensive care. He died at the age of 86 due to age-related issues

Love For Dogs THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830

A humble businessman and great philanthropist left this world on October 9, leaving behind a historic legacy. Ratan Tata was not just another businessman; he was an institution himself. He was known for his down-to-earth nature and generosity. Tata was a businessman whose every move became a story

. As soon as the news of his death made headlines, the entire country began mourning, as Ratan Tata was not just a businessman but a great personality. It is said that he always did business for the country and its people. Tata had been unwell for the past few days and was admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital. He was suffering from low blood pressure, which caused his health to deteriorate. Heart specialist Dr. Sharukh Aspi Golwala was treating the business tycoon.

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Ratan Tata news: This disease that led to multiple organ failure resulted in Ratan Tata’s death

Ratan Tata died in Mumbai October 9. He took his last breath Breach Candy Hospital. THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830

A humble businessman and great philanthropist left this world on October 9, leaving behind a historic legacy. Ratan Tata was not just another businessman; he was an institution himself. He was known for his down-to-earth nature and generosity. Tata was a businessman whose every move became a story. As soon as the news of his death made headlines, the entire country began mourning, as Ratan Tata was not just a businessman but a great personality.

It is said that he always did business for the country and its people. Tata had been unwell for the past few days and was admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital. He was suffering from low blood pressure, which caused his health to deteriorate. Heart specialist Dr. Sharukh Aspi Golwala was treating the business tycoon.

Ratan Tata Died THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830

Despite the best efforts of physicians, Ratan Tata’s health wasn’t showing much traction on improvement. His battles with health problems are being magnified by his age. Medical specialist, Dr. Sharukh Aspi Golwala, pointed out that Ratan Tata was battling a case of hypotension, induced by low blood pressure. This unfortunately led to the weakening function of multiple organs in his body. Further complicating matters, he started dealing with issues related to dehydration, an aspect of health that has pretty serious implications in the elderly.

Low Blood Pressure And Dangers Related To It
• Low blood pressure, or hypotension, is defined as a blood pressure reading below 90/60.
• As people age, they may experience more fluctuations in blood pressure.
• Elderly individuals with low blood pressure should be aware of its potential effects on blood flow to vital organs like the heart and brain.
• A sudden drop in blood pressure can lead to dizziness, light-headedness, and fainting.
• Maintaining stable blood pressure is crucial for overall health, especially in older adults.

‘When my mother remarried…’ Ratan Tata opened up about his parents separation, childhood and first love

In a 2020 interview with Humans of Bombay, Tata opened up about his early childhood, the impact of his parents’ divorce, and a personal story about how he almost got married.

THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830 Ratan Tata, the former chairman of the Tata Group, passed away at the age of 86 in a Mumbai hospital on October 9. Tata, who led the diverse salt-to-software conglomerate for over two decades, took his last breath last week. The Padma Vibhushan awardee had been in intensive care at the hospital for 2 days.

This article is about the former chairman of Tata Sons. For the philanthropist and grandfather of Tata, see Ratanji Tata. For the father of J. R. D. Tata, see Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata.

Ratan Naval Tata^[a] (28 December 1937 – 9 October 2024) was an Indian industrialist and philanthropist. He served as the chairman of Tata Group and Tata Sons from 1991 to 2012 and he held the position of interim chairman from October 2016 to February 2017.^[3][4] In 2000, he received the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian honour in India, followed by the Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second highest civilian honour, in 2008.^[5] THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830

Ratan Tata was the son of Naval Tata, who was adopted by Ratanji Tata, son of Jamshedji Tata, the founder of the Tata Group. He graduated from Cornell University College of Architecture with a bachelor’s degree in architecture.^[6] He had also attended the Harvard Business School (HBS) Advanced Management program in 1975.^[7] He joined the Tata Group in 1962,^[8] starting on the shop floor of Tata Steel. He later succeeded J. R. D. Tata as chairman of Tata Sons upon the latter’s retirement in 1991. During his tenure, the Tata Group acquired Tetley, Jaguar Land Rover, and Corus, in an attempt to turn Tata from a largely India-centric group into a global business.

Throughout his life, Tata invested in over 40 start-ups, primarily in a personal capacity, with additional investments through his firm, RNT Capital Advisors.^[9][10][11]

Early life and education THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830

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Main article: Tata family THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830

THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830 Ratan Tata was born in Bombay (now Mumbai), during the British Raj, into a Parsi Zoroastrian family, on 28 December 1937.^[12] He was the son of Naval Tata (who was born in Surat and later adopted into the Tata family), and Soonoo Tata (the niece of Tata group founder Jamsetji Tata). Tata’s biological grandfather, Hormusji Tata was a member of the Tata family by blood

. In 1948, when Tata was 10, his parents separated, and he was subsequently raised and adopted by Navajbai Tata, his grandmother and widow of Ratanji Tata.^[13] He had a younger brother Jimmy Tata^[14] and a half-brother, Noel Tata, from Naval Tata’s second marriage to his stepmother Simone Tata. THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830

THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830 Tata studied at the Campion School, Mumbai until 8th grade. He then continued his studies at the Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai, the Bishop Cotton School in Shimla, and the Riverdale Country School in New York City, from which he graduated in 1955.^[15][16][17

^] After high school, Tata enrolled in Cornell University, from which he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in architecture in 1962.^[18][19] While at Cornell, Tata became a member of the Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity. In 1975, Tata enrolled in the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School (HBS).^[20] In 2008, Tata gifted Cornell $50 million, becoming the largest international donor in the university’s history.^[21][22] Tata also donated $50 million to Harvard Business School, Harvard University to establish an executive center, which is now called Tata Hall that supports over 9,000 executive education students each year.^[23][24]

Career THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830

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Early years

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THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830 In 1961 Tata met architect A. Quincy Jones who spent three weeks as architecture design critic at Cornell. After completing Cornell, Tata briefly joined Jones at his firm Jones & Emmons in Los Angeles.^[25] While Tata was planning to settle in Los Angeles, he was called back to India by his grandmother.^{[26][better source needed]}

Later years THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830

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THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830 In the 1970s, Ratan Tata was given a managerial position in the Tata group. He achieved initial success by turning the subsidiary National Radio and Electronics (NELCO) around, only to see it collapse during an economic slowdown.^[27][28] In 1991, J. R. D. Tata stepped down as chairman of Tata Sons, naming him his successor.

Initially, Tata faced stiff resistance from the heads of various subsidiaries, who had a large amount of operational freedom under the senior Tata’s tenure. In response, Tata implemented a number of policies designed to consolidate power, including the implementation of a retirement age, having subsidiaries report directly to the group office, and requiring subsidiaries to contribute their profit to building the Tata group brand. Tata prioritised innovation and delegated many responsibilities to younger talent.^[29] Under his leadership, overlapping operations between subsidiaries were streamlined into company-wide operations, with the group exiting unrelated businesses to take on globalisation.^[30] THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830

THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830 During the 21 years Tata led the Tata Group, revenue grew over 40 times, and profit over 50 times.^[27] When he took over the company, sales overwhelmingly comprised commodity sales, but at the end of his tenure, the majority of sales came from brands.^[31][32] He had Tata Tea acquire Tetley, Tata Motors acquire Jaguar Land Rover, and Tata Steel acquire Corus. These acquisitions repositioned Tata from a largely India-centric group into a global business, with over 65% of revenues coming from operations and sales internationally.^[27] THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830

THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830 He also conceptualised and spearheaded the development of the Tata Nano car after the grand success of Diesel Tata Indica, which helped put cars at a price-point within reach of the average Indian consumer.^[33][29] Tata Motors has since rolled out the first batch of Tigor Electric Vehicles from its Sanand Plant in Gujarat, which Tata has described as to “fast-forward India’s electric dream.”^[34]

THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830 Upon turning 75, Ratan Tata resigned his executive powers in the Tata group on 28 December 2012. An ensuing leadership crisis over his succession drew intense media scrutiny.^[35] The board of directors of the company appointed his successor, Cyrus Mistry, a relative of Tata and the son of Pallonji Mistry of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, which was the largest individual shareholder of the Tata group.^[36][37] On 24 October 2016,

Cyrus Mistry was removed as chairman of Tata Sons, and Ratan Tata was made interim chairman. A selection committee, which included Tata as a member, was formed to find a successor.^[38] On 12 January 2017, Natarajan Chandrasekaran was named as the chairman of Tata Sons, a role he assumed in February 2017. In February 2017, Mistry was removed as a director for Tata Sons.^[39] The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal later found in December 2019 that the removal of Cyrus Mistry as the chairman of Tata Sons was illegal, and ordered that he be reinstated.^[39] On appeal, India’s Supreme Court upheld the dismissal of Cyrus Mistry.^[40]

THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830Tata had also invested in multiple companies with his own wealth. He had invested in Snapdeal – one of India’s leading e-commerce websites. In January 2016, he invested in Teabox, an online premium Indian Tea seller,^[41] and CashKaro.com, a discount coupons and cash-back website.^[42] He had made small investments in both early and late stage companies in India, such as INR 0.95 Cr in Ola Cabs.^[43]

 In April 2015, it was reported that Tata had acquired a stake in Chinese smartphone startup Xiaomi.^[44] In 2016, he invested in Nestaway an online real-estate portal that later acquired Zenify to start the online real-estate and pet-care portal, Dogspot.^{[45][46][47][48]} Tata also launched a companionship startup for senior citizens named Goodfellows, to encourage intergenerational friendships.^[49]

Medicine THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830

[edit] THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830

THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830 Tata was a supporter of education, medicine and rural development, and considered a leading philanthropist in India. Ratan Tata was the highest international donor to the Cornell University ^[50][51][52]

1984 Anti-Sikh Pogrom victims THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830

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In the aftermath of the 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots, Tata extended his support to affected Sikh survivors by donating trucks through Tata Motors. This enabled Sikh truck drivers who had lost their vehicles during the violence to regain their livelihoods. His charitable donation enabled many Sikh victims rebuild their lives and businesses. Following this act, Sikh drivers in Punjab and other parts of India continue to remain loyal customers of Tata trucks.^[53]

University of New South Wales THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830

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Tata supported University of New South Wales Faculty of Engineering to develop capacitive deionisation to provide improved water for challenged areas.^[54][55]

University of California THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830

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THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830Tata Hall at the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) is a state-of-the-art research facility that was opened in November 2018. The building is named after the Tata Trusts, who donated $70 million to UC San Diego in 2016 to establish the Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS), which is housed within the building. The Tata Institute for Genetics and Society at UC San Diego is a joint initiative between the Tata Trusts and UC San Diego.

It aims to address some of the world’s most pressing problems, such as the spread of infectious diseases and the need for sustainable food sources. The research conducted at the institute focuses on a range of topics, including gene editing, stem cell therapy, and disease control.^[56] Tata Hall at the UC San Diego is a 4-storey building that is spread over 128,000 square feet and houses research facilities for the biological and physical sciences. The building has laboratories, offices, and meeting spaces that are designed to foster collaboration and innovation among researchers. It is a LEED-certified building; designed to be environmentally sustainable and energy-efficient.^[56] THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830

Tata Education and Development Trust THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830

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THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830 Tata Education and Development Trust, a philanthropic affiliate of Tata Group, endowed a $28 million Tata Scholarship Fund that will allow Cornell University to provide financial aid to undergraduate students from India. The scholarship fund will support approximately 20 scholars at any given time and will ensure that the very best Indian students have access to Cornell, regardless of their financial circumstances. The scholarship will be awarded annually; recipients will receive it for the duration of their undergraduate study at Cornell.^[57]

Executive center at Harvard Business School THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830

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In 2010 Tata Group companies and Tata charities donated $50 million for the construction of an executive center at Harvard Business School (HBS).^[58] The executive center has been named Tata Hall, after Ratan Tata.^[59] The total construction costs have been estimated at $100 million.^[60] Tata Hall is located in the northeast corner of the HBS campus, and is devoted to the Harvard Business School’s mid-career executive education program. It is seven stories tall, and about 155,000 gross square feet. It houses approximately 180 bedrooms, in addition to academic and multi-purpose spaces.^[61]

Tata Innovation Center at Cornell Tech

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The Tata Innovation Center at Cornell Tech is named after Ratan Tata, and mixes academics and industry in a building on the Roosevelt Island campus. The seven-floor structure is meant primarily as a business incubator for students, faculty, and staff, with 70% of the building being commercially leased and 30% devoted to academic space. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is a tenant in the space.^[62]

Indian Institute of Technology

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In 2014, Tata Group endowed the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay with ₹950 million and formed the Tata Centre for Technology and Design (TCTD) to develop design and engineering principles suited to the needs of people and communities with limited resources.^[63][64]

Indian Centre for Neuroscience

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Tata Trusts under the chairmanship of Ratan Tata provided a grant of ₹750 million to the Centre for Neuroscience, Indian Institute of Science to study mechanisms underlying the cause of Alzheimer’s disease and to evolve methods for its early diagnosis and treatment. This grant was to be spread over 5 years starting in 2014.^[65][66]

MIT Tata Center of Technology and Design

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Tata Group, under the leadership of Ratan Tata formed the MIT Tata Center of Technology and Design at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a mission to address the challenges of resource-constrained communities, with an initial focus on India.^[67]

Cornell University

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Ratan Tata was the highest international donor to the Cornell University ^[50][51][52] Cornell University paid tribute to its alumnus Ratan Tata, honouring his visionary leadership, philanthropy, and contributions to education and research, particularly through the Tata-Cornell Institute for Agriculture and Nutrition. ^[68]

Board memberships and affiliations

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Ratan Tata was the interim chairman of Tata Sons. He headed the main two Tata trusts Sir Dorabji Tata and Allied Trusts and Sir Ratan Tata Trust and their allied trusts, with a combined stake of 66% in Tata Sons, Tata group’s holding company.^[69]

He served in various capacities in organisations in India and abroad. He was a member of Prime Minister’s ‘Council on Trade and Industry’ and the ‘National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council’. He was on the jury panel of Pritzker Architecture Prize^[70] – considered to be one of the world’s premier architecture prizes.

Over the years, Tata had served on the Cornell University Board of Trustees, personally advising the school’s administration in matters of international involvement, particularly regarding projects connected to India. More broadly, Tata had served on the board’s Academic Affairs, Student Life, and Development Committees. In 2013 he was named Cornell Entrepreneur of the Year.^[71]

He was a director on the boards of Alcoa Inc., Mondelez International^[72] and Board of Governors of the East–West Center. He was also a member of the board of trustees of University of Southern California, Harvard Business School Board of Dean’s Advisors, X Prize^[73] and Cornell University. He was a member on the board of International Advisory Council at Bocconi University.^[74]

He was on the advisory board of Hakluyt & Co, an international consultancy company.^[75]

In 2013, he was appointed to the board of trustees of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.^[76]

In February 2015, Ratan took an advisory role at Kalari Capital, a venture capital firm founded by Vani Kola.^[77]

In October 2016, Tata Sons removed Cyrus Mistry as its chairman, nearly 4 years after he took over the reins of the over $100 billion conglomerate, Ratan Tata made a comeback, taking over the company’s interim boss for 4 months.^[78] On 12 January 2017, Natarajan Chandrasekaran was named as the chairman of Tata Sons, a role he assumed in February 2017.^[79]

Personal life and death

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Tata never married and had no children. In 2011, he stated, “I came close to getting married four times and each time I backed off in fear or for one reason or another.”^[80] He was a devotee of Sathya Sai Baba, having first met him in 2009, and got involved in multiple projects initiated by the Guru. ^[81]

Tata was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in critical condition and was under intensive care.^[82] He died there at 23:30 IST on 9 October 2024, at the age of 86 due to age-related issues.^[83][84] Following his death, the Government of Maharashtra and the Government of Jharkhand announced a day of mourning.

On 10 October, Tata was given a state funeral.^[85] His last rites were conducted at the parsi crematorium at Worli. He was accorded with military and 21-gun salute during his final rites.^[85][86] Mumbai Police delivered a ceremonial guard of honour and his body was wrapped in the Indian flag.^[87] Even after death, Tata donated ₹10,000cr in his will which includes his mentee Shantanu Naidu.^[88]

Honours and awards

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Ratan Tata received the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and Padma Vibhushan in 2008, the third and second highest civilian honours awarded by the Government of India.^[89] Tata also received various state civilian honours such as ‘Maharashtra Bhushan‘ in 2006 for his work in the public administration in Maharashtra and ‘Assam Baibhav‘ in 2021 for his contribution towards furthering cancer care in Assam.^[90]

Other awards include:

In popular culture

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Mega Icons (2018–2020), an Indian documentary television series on National Geographic about prominent Indian personalities, dedicated an episode to Ratan Tata’s contributions.^[139]

THE REAL GEM OF INDIA 2830