Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus of one of India’s largest conglomerates, Tata Sons, has passed away at the age of 86. Only on Monday, the industrialist had dismissed speculation about his health in a social media post, saying he was undergoing routine medical examination due to his age. .

“It is with a deep sense of loss that we bid farewell to Mr. Ratan Naval Tata, a truly extraordinary leader whose immeasurable contributions shaped not only the Tata Group but also the fabric of our nation,” said N Chandrasekaran, Chairman. Tata Sons, in a late night statement.

“To the Tata Group, Mr. Tata was more than a Chairman. To me, he was a mentor, guide and friend. He inspired by example. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, integrity and innovation, the Tata Group stands under his leadership, his global footprint expanded, while always staying true to his moral compass,” said Mr. Chandrasekaran.

Recalling Mr Tata’s contribution to philanthropy, Mr. Chandrasekharan said, “From education to healthcare, his initiatives have left a deep-rooted mark that will benefit generations to come.”

As the news broke, tributes poured in from the industry and beyond.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the tributes and praised the industrialist as “a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being”.

“Shri Ratan Tata Ji was a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being. He provided steady leadership to one of India’s oldest and most prestigious business houses. At the same time, his contributions extended far beyond the boardroom. He endeared himself to several people thanks to his humility, kindness and an unwavering commitment to making our society better,” the Prime Minister posted on X in a series of tweets along with photos.

Shri Ratan Tata Ji was a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being. He provided steady leadership to one of India’s oldest and most prestigious business houses. At the same time, his contribution extended far beyond the boardroom. He loved… pic.twitter.com/p5NPcpBbBD

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 9, 2024

Rahul Gandhi said, “Ratan Tata was a man of vision. He left a lasting mark on both business and philanthropy. My condolences to his family and the Tata community.”

Gautam Adani hailed the industry giant and said that “legends like him will never disappear”.

“India has lost a giant, a visionary who redefined modern India’s path. Ratan Tata was not just a business leader – he embodied the spirit of India with integrity, compassion and an unwavering commitment to the greater good. Legends like him never fade. . Om Shanti,” said Mr Adani.

India has lost a giant, a visionary who redefined the path of modern India. Ratan Tata was not just a business leader; he embodied the spirit of India with integrity, compassion and an unwavering commitment to the greater good. Legends like him never disappear. Om Shanti 🙏 pic.twitter.com/mANuvwX8wV

— Gautam Adani (@gautam_adani) October 9, 2024

Industrialist Anand Mahindra said he “cannot accept Ratan Tata’s absence”.

“I cannot accept the absence of Ratan Tata. The Indian economy is on the verge of a historic leap forward. And Ratan’s life and work had a lot to do with us being in this position. Hence his mentorship and guidance in this regard. Now that he would be gone, we could only commit ourselves to following his example. Because he was a businessman for whom financial wealth and success were most useful when placed at the service of the global community. said Mr Mahindra.

Ratan Tata became chairman of the $100 billion steel-to-software conglomerate in 1991 and until 2012 headed the group his great-grandfather founded more than a century ago.

He founded telecommunications company Tata Teleservices in 1996 and floated IT company Tata Consultancy Services in 2004.

In 2004, the role of Tata Group, an Indian company, was reversed as a colonialist in reverse after acquiring iconic British car brands – Jaguar and Land Rover.

In 2009, Ratan Tata fulfilled his promise to make the world’s cheapest car accessible to the middle class. Priced at Rs 1 lakh, the Tata Nano became a symbol of innovation and affordability.

Mr Tata served twice as chairman of the conglomerate Tata Group, from 1991 to 2012 and from 2016 to 2017. Although he retired from the day-to-day management of the company, he continued to lead its charities.

Cyrus Mistry, who succeeded Ratan Tata as chairman of Tata Sons but was later ousted in India’s most high-profile boardroom coup, was killed in a car accident in 2022. The bitter feud between the two remained unresolved.

After his resignation, Ratan Tata became chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, Tata Industries, Tata Motors, Tata Steel and Tata Chemicals.

Long after his retirement, Mr Tata remained a popular figure on social media, with heartfelt posts about animal rights (particularly dogs) and appeals to Indian citizens.

Continuing a tradition dating back to the days of Jamsetji Tata, Ratan Tata ensured that Bombay House, the headquarters of the Tata group, remained a haven for stray dogs.

With over 13 million followers on

Early life
Born in 1937, Ratan Tata was raised by his grandmother, Navajbai Tata, after his parents separated in 1948.

He studied architecture at Cornell University and completed management training at Harvard.

By his own admission, the single industrialist almost married four times.

He once admitted that he fell in love while working in Los Angeles. But due to the ongoing Indo-China war of 1962, the girl’s parents refused to let her move to India.

Honor
In 2008, he received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian award. He had received the Padma Bhushan, the third highest, in 2000.

Largest shareholder of Tata Group
Tata Group’s largest shareholder is another Parsee businessman Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry, whose 18% stake is worth P5 billion. His son-in-law, Noel, is also Ratan Tata’s half-brother.