Delhi:

Shantanu Naidu, the general manager at former Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata’s office, penned an emotional post to bid goodbye to his “dear lighthouse”. His post came after the 86-year-old industrialist died on Wednesday, leaving an over two-decade-long legacy of helming a wide variety of verticals within the Tata Group.

Mr Naidu, an MBA from Cornell University and founder of the Goodfellows startup, wrote in a post on LinkedIn, “The hole that this friendship has now left with me, I will spend the rest of my life trying to fill. Grief is the price to pay for love.”

The 28-year-old is the fifth generation of his family to work in the Tata Group. Mr Naidu was seen riding out of Tata’s house on a Yezdi motorcycle this morning, leading the truck carrying his boss’ mortal remains. It was the mutual love and concern for dogs which had formed a bond between the duo. 

Meanwhile, Mr Tata’s remains were taken to the National Centre of Performing Arts in Mumbai, from where they will be taken to a crematorium in Worli where he will be accorded a state funeral.

Born in Bombay, now Mumbai, in 1937, the Cornell University-educated Mr Tata was known for his willingness to take risks.

He took over the family empire in 1991, riding the wave of the radical free-market reforms that the Indian government unleashed that year. His years in charge saw the salt-to-steel conglomerate expand its global footprint to include British luxury brands such as Jaguar and Land Rover.

The industrialist later devoted his time to running the group’s charitable arm and funding some of India’s hottest start-ups.

New Delhi:

In February 2007, Ratan Tata took to the skies in a high-speed adventure that few would ever experience. At the Aero India Show held in Bengaluru, Mr Tata, 69 at the time, was invited by US defence contractor Lockheed Martin to co-pilot an F-16 fighter jet. 

Known for his aviation skills, Mr Tata, who held licenses to fly both jets and helicopters, seized the opportunity to co-pilot the combat aircraft. Under the guidance of a seasoned Lockheed Martin pilot, he took over the controls during the half-hour flight. Soaring through clear skies and reaching altitudes as low as 500 feet, Mr Tata’s experience was described as nothing short of “exhilarating.”

READ | Ratan Tata To Get State Funeral, Day Of Mourning Declared In Maharashtra

Speaking to NDTV shortly after his flight, Mr Tata couldn’t contain his excitement. 

“You end up feeling very timid. We did a few things when the commander took over and did some roles, and all of it was very exciting. We went down to around 500 ft of the deck and it flew around the topography, and it’s just unbelievable because you just climb over a hill and come down, turn on your side or turn over. It’s just unbelievable,” Mr Tata told NDTV.

READ | Ratan Tata: Industrialist, Philanthropist, And Indian Icon

The Lockheed Martin pilot, who guided Mr Tata through the flight, shared the excitement. “He was absolutely thrilled. The highlight was when we flew at low altitudes-around 500 feet-at 600 knots. You get a real sense of how fast this aircraft can move,” the pilot recalled.

On landing, Mr Tata was greeted by Lockheed Martin officials who presented him with a miniature replica of the F-16. The American defence giant was at the time competing for a major multi-billion-dollar defence contract with India.

READ | “Thank You For Thinking Of Me”: Ratan Tata’s Last Social Media Post

But the F-16 wasn’t Mr Tata’s only airborne conquest that week. The very next day, he took to the skies once more – this time in Boeing’s F-18 Super Hornet. Larger and more powerful than the F-16, the F-18 is a key asset in the US Navy’s aircraft carrier operations. For Mr Tata, who has long harboured a passion for aviation, flying two of the world’s most advanced fighter jets back-to-back was a dream come true.

Mr Tata died at the age of 86 in a Mumbai hospital on Wednesday and will be cremated with full state honours today. 

New Delhi:

As tributes poured in to honour legendary industrialist Ratan Tata, Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai took to social media to remember his “business and philanthropic legacy”.

Recalling his interaction with Mr Tata, Mr Pichai said the Tata Group Chairman Emeritus “deeply cared about making India better”. He said they talked about Google’s autonomous driving technology Waymo and his vision was “inspiring to hear”. He added that the 86-year-old was ” instrumental in mentoring and developing the modern business leadership in India”.

Among other business leaders who remembered him were Chairman of the Mahindra Group Anand Mahindra and RPG Enterprises Chairman Harsh Goenka.

Mr Tata, the former Tata Group chairman who transformed a staid group into India’s largest and most influential conglomerate, breathed his last at south Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital at 11.30 pm on Wednesday.

My last meeting with Ratan Tata at Google, we talked about the progress of Waymo and his vision was inspiring to hear. He leaves an extraordinary business and philanthropic legacy and was instrumental in mentoring and developing the modern business leadership in India. He deeply…

— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) October 9, 2024

He was born on December 28, 1937 in Mumbai. Educated at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, the veteran industrialist worked on the shop floor at the family-run group after returning to India in 1962. He gained experience in several Tata Group firms before being named director in charge of one of them, the National Radio and Electronics Co. in 1971.

He became chairman of Tata Industries a decade later and in 1991 took over as the chairman of the Tata Group from his uncle, JRD, who had been in charge for more than half a century.

Under his stewardship, the conglomerate embarked on a massive expansion drive, snapping iconic British assets including steelmaker Corus and luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover. Its two-and-half-dozen listed firms now make coffee and cars, salt and software, steel and power, run airlines and introduced India’s first super app.

After his retirement in 2012, he was appointed Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons.

Mr Tata was the Chairman of Ratan Tata Trust and Dorabji Tata Trust, two of the largest private-sector-promoted philanthropic trusts in India.

He was honoured with the country’s second-highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, in 2008.

Mumbai:

Industrialist Ratan Tata, who died at the age of 86 in a Mumbai hospital on Wednesday, will be cremated with full state honours, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced. The state government has also declared a day of mourning on Thursday to honour the late industrialist. 

Mr Shinde announced that the national flag will be flown at half-mast across government offices in Maharashtra as a mark of respect. Entertainment events scheduled for Thursday have been cancelled.

Mr Tata’s body will be kept at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai’s Nariman Point from 10 am to 4 pm today, where people can pay their last respects. The cremation will take place in the Worli area later in the day.

READ | Ratan Tata: Industrialist, Philanthropist, And Indian Icon

Chief Minister Shinde called Mr Tata an “ideal amalgamation of ethics and entrepreneurship”. “He was a role model for future generations of entrepreneurs and a symbol of India’s industrial growth,” said Mr Shinde.

खो गया देश का अनमोल रत्न

रतनजी टाटा नैतिकता और उद्यमशीलता के अपूर्व और आदर्श संगम थे.लगभग 150 वर्षों की उत्कृष्टता और अखंडता की परंपरा वाले टाटा ग्रुप की कमान सफलतापूर्वक संभालने वाले रतनजी टाटा एक जीवित किवदंती थे.उन्होंने समय-समय पर जिस निर्णय क्षमता और मानसिक दृढ़ता का परिचय… https://t.co/u6MdkdheCC

— Eknath Shinde – एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) October 9, 2024

“Everyone will always remember the determination shown by him after the 2008 Mumbai attack. His firm decisions, courageous attitude and social commitment will always be remembered. The last rites of late Ratanji Tata will be performed with full state honours,” Mr Shinde added.

READ | Ratan Tata Dies: 10 Facts On India’s Most Beloved Industrialist

Mr Tata, who took over the reins of the Tata Group in 1991, was instrumental in the conglomerate’s acquisition of international firms such as Corus and Jaguar Land Rover. He expanded the group’s influence across multiple sectors, from steel and automotive to information technology. A recipient of the Padma Vibhushan, Mr Tata retired in 2012 but continued to guide the group and remained active in philanthropy.

READ | “Thank You For Thinking Of Me”: Ratan Tata’s Last Social Media Post

His death has drawn an outpouring of grief and tributes from across the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered Mr Tata as a visionary business leader and a compassionate soul. Business leaders Gautam Adani, Anand Mahindra, and Sundar Pichai also shared their condolences.

New Delhi:

Ratan Tata, the former Tata Group chairman has died, the Tata Group said in a statement late on Wednesday. He was 86. The news has been met with an outpouring of tributes and poignant memories from industrialists, politicians and other high-profile figures.

“Legends like him never fade away,” wrote Gautam Adani, the chairman of Adani Group on X.

“India has lost a giant, a visionary who redefined modern India’s path. Ratan Tata wasn’t just a business leader – he embodied the spirit of India with integrity, compassion and an unwavering commitment to the greater good. Legends like him never fade away,” he posted.

India has lost a giant, a visionary who redefined modern India’s path. Ratan Tata wasn’t just a business leader – he embodied the spirit of India with integrity, compassion and an unwavering commitment to the greater good. Legends like him never fade away. Om Shanti pic.twitter.com/mANuvwX8wV

— Gautam Adani (@gautam_adani) October 9, 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was “extremely pained” over the death of Ratan Tata, the chairman emeritus of Tata Sons.

“My mind is filled with countless interactions with Shri Ratan Tata Ji. I would meet him frequently in Gujarat when I was the CM. We would exchange views on diverse issues. I found his perspectives very enriching. These interactions continued when I came to Delhi. Extremely pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family, friends and admirers in this sad hour. Om Shanti,” the Prime Minister wrote on X.

My mind is filled with countless interactions with Shri Ratan Tata Ji. I would meet him frequently in Gujarat when I was the CM. We would exchange views on diverse issues. I found his perspectives very enriching. These interactions continued when I came to Delhi. Extremely pained… pic.twitter.com/feBhAFUIom

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 9, 2024

His industry colleagues, Harsh Goenka and Anand Mahindra, also remembered the “titan”. “I am unable to accept the absence of Ratan Tata,” wrote Mr Mahindra.

I am unable 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.… pic.twitter.com/ujJC2ehTTs

— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) October 9, 2024

“The clock has stopped ticking. The Titan passes away. #RatanTata was a beacon of integrity, ethical leadership and philanthropy,” wrote Mr Goenka.

The clock has stopped ticking. The Titan passes away. #RatanTata was a beacon of integrity, ethical leadership and philanthropy, who has imprinted an indelible mark on the world of business and beyond. He will forever soar high in our memories. R.I.P pic.twitter.com/foYsathgmt

— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) October 9, 2024

The Congress also condoled the death of Ratan Tata, with Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi saying he was a man with a vision “who has left a lasting mark on both business and philanthropy”.

New Delhi:

Ratan Tata – few names carry more weight and evoke more reverence amongst India’s 145 crore people and, in a land no stranger to scandals, fewer still do so with such little blemish. 

Born December 28, 1937, Ratan Tata was the eldest son of Naval Tata, who was the adopted son of Sir Ratanji Tata. He was educated at some of India’s finest schools and he graduated with a degree in architecture from Cornell, an Ivy League institution, in New York.

His parents separated when he was 10 years old and young Ratan was brought up by his grandmother, Navajbai Tata, a redoubtable figure by all accounts and one who instilled in him a sense of dignity and a strong moral core.

He began his career on the Telco (now Tata Motors) shopfloor – an unglamorous job scooping limestone into blast furnaces. It was hot, sticky, and back-breaking work.

But his grandmother taught him well; Mr Tata persevered, and, in 1991, he replaced JRD Tata as Chairperson of Tata Sons, the Tata Group’s parent company.

He held that position twice – from 1991 to 2012, when he retired the first time, and from 2016 to 2017, when he was an interim appointee following the sacking of Cyrus Mistry.

Mr Tata was awarded a flood of medals and accolades, including India’s third- and second-highest civilian honours – the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008.

He was also feted by the governments of Singapore, Italy, France, Japan, and Australia, and made an honorary knight of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.

Business Legend 

Mr Tata was an astute businessman and industrialist who transformed the Tata Group – from an India-centric and largely disparate collection of companies into a streamlined and (hugely) profitable corporate behemoth with global interests and revenue sources.

Under his stewardship the Tata Group – even then an Indian brand recognised worldwide – became home to British automotive giants Jaguar, and Land Rover, American luxury hotels chain Ritz Carlton, and Italian aerospace manufacturer Piaggio (sold in 2015), among others.

There were, of course, more, including the $407 million acquisition of Tetley Tea and the (frankly frightening) $12 billion purchase of European steelmaking goliath Corus Group.

In 22 years as Chairperson of the Tata Group, profits and revenues grew a staggering 50 and 40 times; in 2011-12 the latter breached the $100 billion mark for the first time.

The years, though, were not without controversy.

At the head of that particular list is probably the Tata Tapes scandal, and then there was the political battle over land in Bengal for a factory to build the Tata Nano microcar.

When he finally stepped back, he did so from the business world and not from his many (many) charitable causes, which included supporting education and healthcare development through the 105-year-old Tata Trusts, one of India’s oldest grant-bestowing foundations.

The Philanthropist Years

And thus began the second innings of his life – as a philanthropist and beloved national leader praised for his simplicity and humanity, all too rare traits amid the frenzy of the day. 

In a world where talk is plentiful, and always hyperbolic, Mr Tata acted. 

In March, at a sprightly 86, he opened a state-of-the-art Rs 165 crore hospital spread across 20+ acres for small animals, including dogs, which held a special place in his large heart. 

Mr Tata’s love for dogs is the stuff of legend. Ask the strays at the Tata Group’s Mumbai HQ or, better, the scruffy and portly canine that now calls the city’s Taj Mahal Hotel home.

Under Ratan Tata’s watchful eye, the Tata Group and Tata Trusts have also invested in improving the country’s healthcare systems, as well as the fight against diseases like cancer.

Over the years Mr Tata and his family’s companies have also donated billions of dollars in grants to educational institutions, including $70 million to the University of California, San Diego and $50 million to his alma mater.

The latter donation didn’t include a $28 million for a scholarship fund to help Indian undergraduate students study at the prestigious school.

“A Visionary”: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the flood of tributes that quickly followed news of Mr Tata’s death, hailing him as a “a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul, extraordinary human”.

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… pic.twitter.com/p5NPcpBbBD

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 9, 2024

“He provided stable leadership to one of India’s oldest and most prestigious business houses and, 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.”

Fellow businessman Anand Mahindra was also quick to react, and perhaps best captured the emotion of an entire country, and possibly even the world, when he posted on X, “I am unable to accept…”

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Mumbai:

Ratan Tata on Monday afternoon played down fears over his condition after he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital early this morning after a sharp drop in his blood pressure. “There is no cause of concern…” he said.