Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus of one of India’s biggest conglomerates, Tata Sons, has died. The business titan was 86.
Tata, on Monday said he was undergoing a routine medical investigation due to age-related medical conditions. For the past few days, he was being treated at the Breach Candy Hospital in south Mumbai.
A philanthropist and an animal lover, with over 13 million followers on X and nearly 10 million on Instagram, Ratan Tata is the ‘most followed entrepreneur’ in India.
Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran announced Tata’s death in a late night statement: “It is with a profound sense of loss that we bid farewell to Mr. Ratan Naval Tata, a truly uncommon leader whose immeasurable contributions have shaped not only the Tata Group but also the very fabric of our nation.”
“For the Tata Group, Mr. Tata was more than a chairperson. To me, he was 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,” said Mr Chandrasekaran.
A pivotal figure in Indian industry, Ratan Tata’s leadership transformed the Tata Group into a global powerhouse. Through the Tata Trusts, he championed initiatives in education, healthcare and rural development, impacting millions of lives.
Born on December 28, 1937, Ratan Tata was the great-grandson of Jamsetji Tata, the founder of the Tata Group. He graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University in 1962 and began his career in the family business shortly thereafter.
He became chairman of the $100 billion steel-to-software conglomerate in 1991 and ran the group founded by his great-grandfather more than a hundred years ago until 2012.
He took over as chairman during a challenging period for the group, which then had revenues of just USD 5.8 billion. Under his stewardship, the company expanded its reach and diversified its interests, with revenues soaring to nearly USD 85 billion by 2011.
In 2009, Ratan Tata fulfilled his promise to make the world’s cheapest car accessible to the middle class. The Tata Nano, priced at ₹ 1 lakh, became a symbol of innovation and affordability.
Throughout his tenure, Ratan Tata was instrumental in acquiring international companies, including Jaguar Land Rover and Corus Steel and established Tata Group as a prominent player in sectors such as steel, automobiles, telecommunications, and information technology.
(Agencies; Picture Courtesy: X/Ratan Tata)
