To my friend, Prime Minister @narendramodi.
I and many in Israel mourn the loss of Ratan Naval Tata, a proud son of India and a champion of the friendship between our two countries. ????Please convey my condolences to Ratan's family.
In sympathy,
Benjamin Netanyahu— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) October 12, 2024
Ratan Tata, the former chairman of Tata Sons, passed away on Wednesday night at the age of 86 in a Mumbai hospital. He was widely respected for his transformative leadership of the Tata Group, one of India’s largest and most respected conglomerates. During his tenure, Tata significantly expanded and diversified the group’s businesses, including the launch of the Tata Nano, the world’s cheapest car.
Ratan Tata never made it to Richest list despite leading a $100B company, as all his profits went to charity. His net worth was less than a billion, but he earned the love of billions. His legacy shows that true wealth isn’t what you hoard, but what you give away.
— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) October 12, 2024
His contributions extended beyond business into philanthropy and nation-building, as he was instrumental in various charitable initiatives through Tata Trusts, focusing on healthcare, education, and rural development. Eminent figures from various walks of life paid their tributes to the late business leader, including Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, industrialist Mukesh Ambani, and Bollywood actor Aamir Khan. Leaders and admirers gathered to honor his legacy at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) lawns in Mumbai.
Tata’s body was taken for cremation on Thursday, accompanied by full state honors. The state of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu also arrived to pay his respects. Born in 1937, Ratan Tata was the eldest son of Naval Tata and Sooni Tata.
Voices : Ratan Tata: The clock stopped – A Titan is no more – an article by me https://t.co/Abubzc99Un
— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) October 11, 2024
Ratan Tata’s inspiring legacy continues
He was raised by his grandmother, Lady Navajbai Tata, after his parents separated when he was ten years old. Tata studied architecture and engineering at Cornell University in New York before returning to India in 1962 to join the Tata group.
Throughout his career, Tata held various leadership positions within the group, including director-in-charge of National Radio and Electronics (Nelco) and chairman of Tata Industries. He also completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 1975. In 1991, Tata succeeded J.R.D. Tata as chairman of Tata Sons and Tata Trusts, initiating a restructuring process for the group and focusing on global expansion and innovation.
Under his leadership, the Tata group made high-profile acquisitions such as Tetley, Corus, and Jaguar Land Rover, positioning the group as a major global player. Tata was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honor, in 2008 for his contributions to building the Tata group into a global conglomerate and his efforts in philanthropy. He stepped down as chairman of Tata Sons in December 2012 but remained active in philanthropy, mentoring, and global business leadership.
As the nation mourns his loss, Ratan Tata’s legacy continues to inspire future generations of entrepreneurs and business leaders.
