Ratan Tata, the well-known former chairman of Tata Group, has passed away at the age of 86. The Tata Group announced his death on Wednesday. He had been in intensive care at a hospital in Mumbai, according to sources close to his situation.
After graduating from Cornell University with a degree in architecture, Ratan Tata returned to India in 1962 and joined his family’s business, which had been founded by his great-grandfather. Over the years, he worked in many Tata companies, including Tata Motors and Tata Steel, where he helped turn around struggling businesses like National Radio & Electronics Company by reducing losses and increasing market share.
In 1991, Tata became the chairman of the group when his uncle, JRD Tata, stepped down. This was a time when India was opening its economy to the world, allowing for more growth opportunities. One of his first actions as chairman was to bring in younger leaders, set retirement ages, and tighten control over the group’s companies.
Tata’s leadership saw the company grow not just in India, but globally. He founded Tata Teleservices in 1996 and took Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) public in 2004, which became one of the group’s most successful businesses. The Tata Group also made major international deals, such as buying the British tea company Tetley in 2000 and acquiring the steelmaker Corus in 2007 for $13 billion. In 2008, Tata Motors bought the British car brands Jaguar and Land Rover for $2.3 billion from Ford.c
Ratan Tata also oversaw the creation of the Indica, India’s first homegrown car, and the Nano, the world’s cheapest car, priced at just 100,000 Indian rupees (about $1,200). While the Indica was a hit, the Nano faced safety issues and marketing problems, leading to its discontinuation.
Known for his modest lifestyle, Tata never married and was a licensed pilot who sometimes flew the company plane. He was also deeply involved in philanthropy, with much of Tata Sons’ ownership held by charitable trusts.
Tata’s time as chairman wasn’t without challenges. In 2016, the company had a public dispute when chairman Cyrus Mistry was removed from his position. Mistry accused Tata of interfering, while Tata Sons said Mistry hadn’t been able to fix underperforming parts of the business. After stepping down from Tata, Ratan Tata became an active investor in Indian startups, backing companies like Paytm, Ola Electric, and Urban Company.
Throughout his life, Ratan Tata received many awards, including the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honor, in 2008, for his contributions to trade and industry. Ratan Tata will be remembered for his strong leadership, his vision for taking Tata global, and his commitment to philanthropy.
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Throughout his life, Ratan Tata received many awards, including the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honor, in 2008, for his contributions to trade and industry. Ratan Tata will be remembered for his strong leadership, his vision for taking Tata global, and his commitment to philanthropy.
