Mohammad Hanief
There are a host of reasons why Ratan Naval Tata was worthy of admiration, none more so than for the way he sailed through the high tide of his life as head of the Tata group, with grace and a quiet dignity all too rare in the tumult and cacophony that characterise the mostly grubby, sometimes noble intersection of business and life in today’s India.
For the Tata Group, Ratan Tata was more than a chairperson. 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. The rectitude and resolve behind this persona was of more consequence, though, defining as they have the shape and substance of a remarkable business conglomerate during what was the most transformative period in its long and storied history.
Born to Naval and Soonoo Tata on December 28, 1937, Ratan Tata and his younger brother, Jimmy, were brought up by their grandmother, Navajbai R Tata, in a baroque manor called Tata Palace in downtown Bombay. Life was luxurious (the young Ratan was driven to school in a Rolls-Royce) but Lady Navajbai, a formidable matriarch, instilled a strong set of values in her grandchildren. “She was very indulgent, but also quite strict in terms of discipline.” Ratan Tata would recall in one of those rare interviews where he opened up about his growing-up years: “We were very protected and we didn’t have many friends. I had to learn the piano and I played a lot of cricket.”
Finish with school he did and then it was on to Cornell University in the United States, a nation and a state of mind that Ratan Tata fell in love with. Cornell, where he studied architecture and structural engineering, and those years in America from 1955 to 1962 would influence Ratan tremendously. It was, in multiple ways, the making of him. He travelled the country and was charmed by California and that West Coast lifestyle he was ready to settle down in Los Angeles.
The spell was broken when Lady Navajbai’s health deteriorated. Ratan was forced to return to a life he thought he had left behind. Now back in India, Ratan had a job offer from IBM. JRD Tata wasn’t amused.
Ratan Tata’s early years at the Tata Group were characterised by adeliberate avoidance of any overt reliance on his family name. He began his career on the shop floor at Tata Steel, where he worked alongside blue-collar laborers, learning the business from the ground up. This humility and hands-on experience would define his approach to leadership in the years to come.
When Tata assumed leadership of the Tata Group in 1991, he inherited an empire steeped in legacy but in need of reinvention. What followed was nothing short of a corporate renaissance. During his two-decade tenure as chairman, Tata transformed the sprawling conglomerate from a predominantly India-focused entity into a global enterprise. Under his stewardship, the Group expanded into over 100 countries, with nearly two-thirds of its revenue generated from outside India.
Among Tata’s most notable accomplishments were his bold acquisitions of international brands, a testament to his vision of making the Tata Group a global player. The acquisition of Tetley Tea in 2000 marked the first significant overseas purchase by an Indian company, setting the tone for what was to come. The group went on to acquire the UK’s Corus Steel in 2007 and the iconic Jaguar Land Rover in 2008, moves that were initially met with skepticism but ultimately underscored Tata’s far reaching foresight.
The government of India honored Ratan Tata with its second-highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, in 2008. He was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire and Rockefeller Foundation conferred him with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Among his other achievements, Ratan was also an honorary fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Royal Academy of Engineering and a foreign associate of National Academy of Engineering. He received honorary doctorates from several universities in India and overseas.
Ratan Tata’s dedication to philanthropy and the development of society has touched the lives of millions. From education to healthcare, his initiatives have left a deep-rooted mark that will benefit generations to come. Reinforcing all of this work was Ratan Tata’s genuine humility in every individual interaction.
Perhaps the most defining trait of Ratan Tata’s leadership was his unwavering adherence to ethical principles. In an era marked by corporate greed and misconduct, he was a beacon of integrity. He famously declined a bribe when his company was bidding to start an airline, underscoring his belief that profits should never come at the expense of one’s principles.
Tata’s retirement in 2012 marked the end of an era for the conglomerate, but his influence remained palpable. He continued to mentor young entrepreneurs, offering guidance and support to India’s burgeoning startup ecosystem. His investment in several Indian startups-including Ola and Paytm-demonstrated his continued belief in the power of innovation to drive progress.
Ratan Naval Tata, one of India’s most revered industrialists and a paragon of leadership, passed away at the age of 86. His demise marks the close of a remarkable chapter in the annals of global business. A towering figure in Indian industry, he was a man of quiet dignity, profound foresight, and a deep-rooted sense of social responsibility.
Beyond business, Ratan Tata was deeply committed to philanthropy, a legacy that traces its roots to the founding principles of the Tata family. As chairman of the Tata Trusts-one of India’s oldest and most significant charitable organizations-he oversaw substantial investments in areas such as healthcare, education, and rural development. His personal dedication to these causes extended beyond mere financial contributions; Ratan Tata was an advocate for using wealth as a tool for societal improvement, often working quietly behind the scenes to advance causes close to his heart.
