Ratan Tata, former chairman of Tata Sons breathed his last on Wednesday. He was 86. As per reports, the veteran industrialist was admitted to the Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai after his blood pressure dropped suddenly. Later he was shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) following a sudden deterioration in his health.
“It is with a profound sense of loss that we bid farewell 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,” N Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Group said in a statement.
Ratan Tata life’s journey
Born on 28th December 1937, Ratan Tata led the Tata Group for over two decades. He was chairman from 1991 to 2012 and returned briefly as interim chairman in 2016.
His father Naval Tata was the adopted son of Ratanji Tata, who was the son of Tata group founder JN Tata. His biological grandfather, Hormusji Tata, was a member of the Tata family. Ratan Tata’s mother Sooni Tata was the niece of JN Tata. Born in a billionaire family, Ratan went to school in a Rolls Royce car.
Ratan’s Parents Separate
But in 1948, when he was 10, his parents separated after his father Naval Tata married Swiss lady Simone. Ratan Tata was raised by his grandmother Navajbai Tata. He has a younger brother Jimmy Tata, and a half-brother, Noel Tata.
Ratan Tata never married. However, he said once that he came close to marriage four times and backed off each time for one reason or the other.
Ratan Tata went to the Campion School, and the Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai. He also studied at the Bishop Cotton School in Shimla, and the Riverdale Country School in New York City. He graduated in architecture from Cornell University in 1959. He paid back to his alma mater in 2008 when he donated $50 million to Cornell University.
Business Success
Ratan Tata joined the Tata group in 1962, but he was given a managerial position i n 1970. His first business success came when he turned around National Radio and Electronics (NELCO).
He reorganised the Tata Group and added many new companies, products, and brands. Within five years, the group’s net annual revenue soared to $6 billion. He spent $15 billion to buy Tetley Tea, Jaguar Land Rover, and Anglo-Dutch steel manufacturer Corus Group.
His achievement can be gauged by the fact that when Ratan, as he was called affectionately, decided to hang his boots in 2012, Tata Group’s revenue crossed the $100 billion mark.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wrote: “Shri Ratan Tata Ji was a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being. He provided stable leadership to one of India’s oldest and most prestigious business houses. At the same time, his contribution went far beyond the boardroom. He endeared himself to several people thanks to his humility, kindness and an unwavering commitment to making our society better.”
