For many Indians, rich or poor, if Tata stands for ‘desh ka namak’, Ratan Naval Tata is ‘desh ka chamak’, India at its best. A quiet, inspiring leader, Ratan Tata has shaped the Tata Group in his image over the past several decades as it has diversified from salt to steel to software to automobiles and aviation. Since the Tata Group has quietly become a corporate behemoth, one thing it has meant to Indians is trust. That trust was taken too high Ratan Tata who died on Wednesday. He was 86 years old.
Ratan Tata has it all together. He was an entrepreneur when the team’s capital increased 40 times, he was an entrepreneur who invested in startups, he was a professional pilot who flew the F16, and he was a philanthropist who led the construction of cancer hospitals.
He became the chairman of Tata Sons, the parent company of the Tata Group, in 1991 and managed it until 2012. Since then, he used the honorary title of Chairman Emeritus.
Born on December 28, 1937, in Bombay, Ratan Tata would go on to head one of India’s largest conglomerates, Tata Sons.
He was the son of Naval Tata and Sooni Tata.
The family of Ratanji Tata, son of Tata Group founder Jamsetji Tata, took over Naval Tata when he was 13 years old.
Ratan Tata was only 10 years old when Naval and Sooni separated, and he was brought up by Navajbai Tata, his grandmother and Ratanji Tata’s widow.
Ratan Tata received his degree in architecture from Cornell University in 1962.
“America held a special place for the young Ratan Tata. He studied architecture at Cornell University and traveled the country, washing dishes to earn money,” according to a 2008 Guardian report. “Ratan Tata admitted that he fell in love with a young American woman,” it said.
He worked briefly with Jones and Emmons in Los Angeles and returned to India in late 1962. He earned his Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 1975.
RATAN TATA AND HIS QUIET LEADERSHIP
In a 2021 piece for India Today magazine, Piramal Group Chairman Ajay Piramal explained what makes Ratan Tata different.
“…I have seen his quiet leadership style as he has led the Group to reach its incredible heights,” wrote Piramal. “He is modest, calm, unconcerned, kind and forward-looking – making him a unique leader who is respected around the world,” he added.
After returning to India, he joined Tata Steel, reportedly working on the shop floor, eventually becoming chairman in 1991.
It was under Ratan Tata’s leadership that the brand’s telecommunications arm, Tata Teleservices, was established in 1996 and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) went public in 2004.
Under Ratan Tata, the Tata Group acquired Tetley, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), and Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus, making the group a global icon.
The acquisition of Tetley, a British beverage manufacturer, was one of the first major international acquisitions by an Indian company. And this, i The Tata Group became a global competitor. The acquisition of JLR made Tata a global automotive player.
In 2017, Tata Group and American Aerospace giant Lockheed Martin signed a historic joint venture agreement. manufacture combat-proven F-16 fighter jets in India.
In every business, it seems the Tatas put India first. Ratan Tata oversaw the launch of the Indica, the first truly Indian car, in 1998.
Ratan Tata loved cars.
“He doesn’t drink or smoke. His vices are fast-paced: driving fast cars, flying airplanes and on weekends he runs his yacht across Mumbai’s harbour,” according to The Guardian.
Not only did he like fast cars, he also liked the idea that every Indian should be able to afford a car. That is why Tata Motors launched the Nanoconsidered to be the cheapest car in the world, at Rs 1 lakh in 2008.
In a statement confirming Ratan Tata’s death on Wednesday night, Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran said “his immeasurable contributions have not only shaped the Tata Group but also the fabric of our nation”.
In recognition of his extraordinary contributions, Ratan Tata was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest award, in 2008.
When Ratan Tata took over as Chairman of Tata Sons in 1991, the Tata Group was primarily an Indian conglomerate with annual revenues of around $5 billion. He transformed the group into a global organization with operations in 100 countries. When he retired in 2012, the club’s net worth was $100 billion.
HOW THE RATAN TATA GROUP MANAGES INQUIRIES
Ratan Tata also steered the Tata Group through many difficult situations.
“No one can escape difficult decisions, he managed to get through many difficult situations, including the seven executives of the Tata Group at the beginning of his career, or the recent affair with Cyrus Mistry,” wrote Ajay Piramal in a 2021 episode of India Today Magazine.
In the early 1990s, Ratan Tata faced a major challenge from Russi Mody, a veteran and influential figure in the Tata Group, who after JRD Tata’s retirement as chairman of Tata Sons.
Mody, a former chairman and director of the Tata Iron and Steel Company (Tisco), was part of the old guard that prospered under the leadership of JRD Tata. Mody opposed the new retirement age of 75 and the exercise of power under Ratan Tata, which led to a bitter rivalry.
Mody tried to assert his independence and control of Tisco, but Ratan Tata’s determination to maintain the unity and cohesion of the Tata Group ultimately prevailed.
In 2016, Ratan Tata faced another major crisis, this time involving Cyrus Mistry, who had been appointed chairman of Tata Sons in 2012.
Mistry, a member of the influential Pallonji Mistry family in Tata Sons, was seen as Ratan Tata’s successor but their relationship quickly soured.
On 24 October 2016, the Tata Sons board abruptly removed Mistry from the position of chairman, saying it no longer had confidence in his leadership. The fallout from Mistry’s ouster was marked by intense power struggles and legal battles, which were ultimately won by the Tata Group after a Supreme Court order in 2020 upheld Mistry’s ouster.
RATAN TATA IS A DOG LOVER AND PHILANTHROPIST
There is no mention of business leader Ratan Tata without compassion and generosity not mentioned in the same breath.
“Shri Ratan Tata Ji was a business leader with a vision, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary person. He provided stable leadership to one of the oldest and most respected business houses in India. At the same time, his contribution went beyond the board. He was endeared to many people thanks to his humility, kindness and unwavering dedication to the betterment of our society. get better,” Prime Minister Narendra. Modi said on Wednesday after the news of Ratan Tata’s death.
There is a reason why Ratan Tata has never appeared at the top of Forbes or any other billionaires list.
Philanthropy is in Tata’s DNA. From founder Jamshetji, the Tata Group chairmen left to Tata Trusts, which owns two-thirds of Tata Sons. Around 60% of Tata Sons shares are directed to charitable organizations.
As per the IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2022, Ratan Tata ranked 421 with an estimated net worth of Rs 3,800 crore.
Tata Trusts, under Ratan Tata, developed and added 10 cancer care centers in Assam, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The facilities make world-class medical care accessible to the poor.
Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran said Ratan Tata’s dedication to philanthropy touched millions of people. “From education to health, his plans have left deep roots that will benefit future generations,” he said.
Ratan Tata, never married, loved a dog. He helped fund a start-up to support street dogs.
In fact, she skipped the ceremony where she was to be honored by Prince Charles for her lifetime charity in 2018 because one of her two dogs was unwell.
When Prince Charles found out why Ratan Tata chose to miss the event, he said, “That’s the man. That man is Ratan. That’s why Tata’s house is like this.”
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