During Tata’s 21 years in charge, the salt-to-steel conglomerate added British premium brands like Jaguar and Land Rover to its global reach.
The company announced late Wednesday that Indian industrialist Ratan Tata, who is recognized for having turned the Tata Group into a world-famous conglomerate, had passed away at the age of 86.
Under Tata, the business expanded into a vast global conglomerate with a portfolio that included everything from sports automobiles to software.
Natarajan Chandrasekaran, the chairman of the business, said in a statement, “We bid farewell with a profound sense of loss 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.”
“I offer his loved ones our deepest sympathies. As we work to preserve the values he so fervently defended, his legacy will continue to motivate us.
Soon after, tributes began to come in from India and other places.
Tata was referred to as “a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul, and an extraordinary human being” by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
For giving “stable leadership to one of India’s oldest and most prestigious business houses,” the prime minister commended Tata.
In an X post, he expressed his sympathies to Tata’s friends and family and said he was “extremely pained” by Tata’s demise.
Tata was born in Bombay, which is now Mumbai, in 1937. He had intended to become an architect and was employed in the United States until his grandmother, who reared him, encouraged him to come back and work for the large family business.
He began working at TISCO (now Tata) in 1962, where he slept in an apprentice dormitory and worked on the shop floor close to blast furnaces.
Riding the crest of India’s radical free-market reforms that year, he seized control of the family business in 1991.
During Tata’s 21 years in charge, the salt-to-steel conglomerate added British premium brands like Jaguar and Land Rover to its global reach.
His charitable endeavors “touched the lives of millions,” according to the Tata Group.
“His initiatives have left a deep-rooted mark that will benefit generations to come, from healthcare to education,” the corporation continued.
According to Modi’s statement, Tata’s impact extends well beyond the realm of business.
His impact extended well beyond the boardroom. With a picture of the two men sitting next to each other and grinning, the prime minister said, “He won over many people with his humility, kindness, and unwavering dedication to improving our society.”
Corporate executives also paid their respects.
“India’s economy is poised for a significant breakthrough. And we are in this position in large part because of Ratan’s life and efforts,” Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra wrote on X.
With Tata’s passing, “the clock has stopped ticking,” according to Harsh Goenka, chairman of RPG Enterprises.
RatanTata was a shining example of moral leadership, honesty, and charity who left a lasting impression on the business community and beyond. Goenka stated, “He will always fly high in our memories.”
Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who was born in India, said that Tata “deeply cared about making India better” and that he left behind “an extraordinary business and philanthropic legacy.”
Salman Khan, a Bollywood star, too expressed his sadness over Tata’s death.
