Ratan Tata, the 86-year-old chairman of Tata Sons and a seasoned industrialist, passed away late on Wednesday. Due to a sharp decrease in blood pressure, he was rushed to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai on Monday and was in serious condition in the intensive care unit.
The Tata family made the announcement of Ratan Tata’s death on Tata Group’s X handle. “We, his brothers, sisters and family, take solace and comfort in the outpouring of love and respect from all who admired him. While he is no longer with us in person, his legacy of humility, generosity, and purpose will continue to inspire future generations,” the statement read.
Eknath Shinde, the chief minister of Maharashtra, declared that Tata will get a state funeral. Shinde remembered Tata’s fortitude and his leadership in the wake of the terrorist attacks of 26/11. One of the locations the terrorists targeted during the attack in November 2008 was the renowned Taj Hotel, which is owned by the Tata Group. Tata’s leadership legacy was defined by his unwavering approach during the crisis.
The public is welcome to pay their respects to Ratan Tata on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) Lawns in South Mumbai, according to a statement from the Tata Group. “We request the members of the public to enter NCPA Lawns from Gate 3 and the exit will be at Gate 2. There will be no parking available at the premises. At 4pm, the mortal remains will embark on its final journey to the Prayer Hall at the Worli Crematorium, Dr E Moses Road, Worli for the final rites,” the statement read.
Ratan Tata was described as a “truly uncommon leader whose immeasurable contributions have shaped not only the Tata Group but also the very fabric of our nation” by Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran in an official statement. He claimed that Tata was more to him than just the chairman of the Tata Group, calling him a “mentor, guide, and friend.”
“He inspired by example. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, integrity, and innovation, the Tata Group under his stewardship expanded its global footprint while always remaining true to its moral compass,” he said, mentioning Tata’s dedication to philanthropy and the development of society — be it in education or healthcare — that left a “deep-rooted mark” and “will benefit generations to come”.
“On behalf of the entire Tata family, I extend our deepest condolences to his loved ones. His legacy will continue to inspire us as we strive to uphold the principles he so passionately championed,” he added.
Tata’s death was condoled by President Droupadi Murmu, who said India has lost an icon “who blended corporate growth with nation building, and excellence with ethics” while Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him “a visionary business soul and an extraordinary human being”. Several big industrialists, including Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, Harsh Goenka and Anand Mahindra, also paid their respects.
Along with expressing sympathy for the industrialist’s passing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described him as an exceptional person. “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 himself to several people thanks to his humility, kindness and an unwavering commitment to making our society better,” PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister also praised Tata for his commitment to philanthropy and social causes, particularly in areas such as education, healthcare, sanitation, and animal welfare. “One of the most unique aspects of Shri Ratan Tata Ji was his passion towards dreaming big and giving back. He was at the forefront of championing causes like education, healthcare, sanitation, animal welfare to name a few,” he said.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed his grief over Ratan Tata’s death and called him a man with vision. “Ratan Tata was a man with a vision. He has left a lasting mark on both business and philanthropy. My condolences to his family and the Tata community,” Rahul Gandhi posted on X.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also took to X and said that he was saddened by the death of “legendary industrialist and true nationalist”.
“He selflessly dedicated his life to the development of our nation. Every time I met him, his zeal and commitment to the betterment of Bharat and its people amazed me. His commitment to the welfare of our country and its people led to the blooming of millions of dreams. Time cannot take away Ratan Tata Ji from his beloved nation. He will live on in our hearts. My condolences to Tata Group and his countless admirers. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti,” Shah said.
Ratan Tata, a visionary and well-known philanthropist, chaired Tata Sons, the parent company of the salt-to-steel conglomerate, and led the Tata Group from March 1991 to December 2012. As a result of his remarkable achievements, the Tata Group is presently valued at over $365 billion (about Rs 30.7 lakh crore) as of March 31, 2024.
The Tata Group website states that the combined income of the Tata firms, or enterprises, in 2023–2024 was over $165 billion (about Rs 13.9 lakh crore). These thirty enterprises, which together employ more than 10 lakh people, include, among others, Trent (Westside, Zudio, Zara), Jaguar Land Rover, Titan, Indian Hotels, Air India, Tata Steel, and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
The man responsible for the 2009 debut of the Tata Nano, dubbed the “People’s Car,” received the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008. We will all be terribly saddened by the passing of one of India’s industrial pioneers, from consumer goods to civil aviation to steel.
Even in his final social media exchange on Monday, October 7, Ratan Tata maintained the persona of the benevolent and modest business magnate. He asked people not to speculate about his hospitalisation and stated that since he is getting checked out for age-related medical concerns, there is no need to be concerned about his health.
While posting the statement over his health concerns, he said: “Thank you for thinking of me.” “These claims are unfounded… I am currently undergoing medical check-ups due to my age-related medical conditions,” he said via his statement.
Requesting the public and media to refrain from “spreading misinformation”, he said: “There is no cause for concern. I remain in good spirits. I am aware of recent rumours circulating regarding my health and I want to assure everyone that these claims are unfounded.”
Ratan Tata became Tata Sons’ chairman in March 1991 and announced his retirement on December 28, 2012. Upon assuming leadership, he aggressively sought to expand it and, as a result, over half of the Tata Group’s revenues were derived from outside the country.
Under his leadership, the Tata Group’s earnings multiplied, rising from a meagre Rs10,000 crore in 1991 to a staggering USD100.09 billion in 2011–12. He oversaw the group’s acquisition of Tetley by Tata Tea for USD 450 million in 2000, steelmaker Corus by Tata Steel for GBP 6.2 billion in 2007, and the historic Jaguar Land Rover by Tata Motors for USD 2.3 billion in 2008.
But after retiring, Tata had to contend with a boardroom conflict with his successor, Cyrus Mistry, who was fired on October 24, 2016, as chairman of Tata Sons. After Mistry was dismissed, he took back the reins as the group’s acting chairman, passed the reins to N Chandrasekaran in January 2017, and assumed the position of chairman emeritus of Tata Sons.
The Tata Group website states that “66 percent of the equity share capital of Tata Sons is held by philanthropic trusts, which support education, health, livelihood generation and art and culture”. Known as one of the foremost philanthropists of the world, who lived a relatively modest lifestyle, Ratan Tata continued to head the charitable trusts even after his retirement.
His family has a long history of supporting charitable initiatives, something he continued. The Tata family has received honours such as the 2007 Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy. In addition, the Tata Group founded prestigious establishments including the Tata Memorial Hospital, a cancer treatment facility, and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).
After his parents’ divorce, he was adopted by his grandparents when he was just 10 years old. He earned a bachelor’s degree in design from Cornell University College of design. He started out with the company in 1961, working on the Tata Steel shop floor.
The son of their father Naval Tata’s second marriage, Noel Tata, is a serious candidate to carry on the Tata family tradition. Noel’s three children – Maya, Neville and Leah – are seen as potential successors to the family legacy.
