Tata Group’s chairman emeritus and veteran industrialist Ratan Tata passed away at the age of 86.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Ratan Tata, Tata Group’s chairman emeritus passed away on Wednesday (October 9, 2024) at the age of 86.

Tata Group grew into a global powerhouse under Ratan Tata’s visionary leadership. Throughout his career, he has contributed to several sectors, including engineering and technology. The group’s significant global expansion under his leadership stands as a testament to his transformative impact on the Indian industry.

A collection of stories on the veteran industrialist

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.

New Delhi:

Google CEO Sundar Pichai offered his condolences on the passing away of businessman Ratan Tata and said that Tata leaves an extraordinary business and philanthropic legacy.

In a post on X, Mr Pichai said that Ratan Tata “deeply cared about making India better.”

The veteran industrialist, 86, passed away on Wednesday evening at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai.
“
My last meeting with Ratan Tata at Google, we talked about the progress of Waymo and his vision was inspiring to hear.” Mr Pichai said. “He leaves an extraordinary business and philanthropic legacy and was instrumental in mentoring and developing modern business leadership in India,” he said.

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 deeply cared about making India better. Deep condolences to his loved ones and Rest in Peace Ratan Tata Ji,” he added

Chairman of the Mahindra Group Anand Mahindra expressed his heartfelt condolences on the passing away of Ratan Tata.

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.

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

“I am unable to accept the absence of Ratan Tata,” Mr Mahindra said. “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. With him gone, all we can do is to commit to emulating his example. Because he was a businessman for whom financial wealth and success was most useful when it was put to the service of the global community. Goodbye and Godspeed, Mr. T You will not be forgotten. Because Legends never die. Om Shanti,” he added.

Ratan N Tata was among India’s most respected and loved industralists, who took Tata Group to new heights and touched the fabric of the nation through his contributions across different areas including philanthropy.

Tata, born on December 28, 1937, in Mumbai, is the Chairman of Ratan Tata Trust and Dorabji Tata Trust, two of the largest private-sector-promoted philanthropic trusts in India.

He was the Chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, from 1991 until his retirement in 2012. Then he was appointed Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons. He was honoured with the country’s second-highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, in 2008.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Google CEO Sundar Pichai offered his condolences on the passing away of businessman Ratan Tata and said that Tata leaves an extraordinary business and philanthropic legacy.

In a post on X, Mr Pichai said that Ratan Tata “deeply cared about making India better.”

The veteran industrialist, 86, passed away on Wednesday evening at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai.
“
My last meeting with Ratan Tata at Google, we talked about the progress of Waymo and his vision was inspiring to hear.” Mr Pichai said. “He leaves an extraordinary business and philanthropic legacy and was instrumental in mentoring and developing modern business leadership in India,” he said.

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 deeply cared about making India better. Deep condolences to his loved ones and Rest in Peace Ratan Tata Ji,” he added

Chairman of the Mahindra Group Anand Mahindra expressed his heartfelt condolences on the passing away of Ratan Tata.

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.

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

“I am unable to accept the absence of Ratan Tata,” Mr Mahindra said. “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. With him gone, all we can do is to commit to emulating his example. Because he was a businessman for whom financial wealth and success was most useful when it was put to the service of the global community. Goodbye and Godspeed, Mr. T You will not be forgotten. Because Legends never die. Om Shanti,” he added.

Ratan N Tata was among India’s most respected and loved industralists, who took Tata Group to new heights and touched the fabric of the nation through his contributions across different areas including philanthropy.

Tata, born on December 28, 1937, in Mumbai, is the Chairman of Ratan Tata Trust and Dorabji Tata Trust, two of the largest private-sector-promoted philanthropic trusts in India.

He was the Chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, from 1991 until his retirement in 2012. Then he was appointed Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons. He was honoured with the country’s second-highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, in 2008.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)