Tributes from industry leaders, politicians and the general public poured in for Ratan Tata, the former chairman of India’s Tata Sons, who died on Wednesday at the age of 86.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post on

Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai recalled his meeting with Tata where they discussed Google’s self-driving car project.

“He leaves behind an extraordinary business and philanthropic legacy and was instrumental in guiding and developing India’s modern business leadership,” Pichai wrote on X.

Tata, who is credited with expanding his business globally through several high-profile acquisitions including Jaguar-Land Rover in 2008, was reportedly in the intensive care unit of a Mumbai hospital.

“Ratan Tata’s passing is a great loss not just for the Tata Group, but for every Indian,” Mukesh Ambani, India’s richest person and chairman of oil retail conglomerate Reliance Group, said in a post on X.

“Mr Tata brought India to the world and brought the best of the world to Bharat.”

Tata, who earned an architecture degree from Cornell University in 1962, joined the family business that same year. He was known for his philanthropy and was chairman of Tata Trusts, one of India’s largest charities.

N. Chandrasekaran, the current chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company of conglomerate Tata Group, expressed his condolences in a statement on the company’s website: “Mr Tata’s commitment to philanthropy and the development of society has touched the lives of millions of people. education to healthcare, his initiatives have left a deep-rooted mark that will benefit generations to come.”

Tata reportedly played a major role in around 60 acquisitions that helped the group expand globally.

“With an unwavering commitment to excellence, integrity and innovation, the Tata Group under his leadership has expanded its global footprint, while always staying true to its moral compass,” Chandrasekaran added.

Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani called Tata “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,” Adani wrote on X.

Anand Mahindra, The chairman of India’s Mahindra Group, which competes with the Tata Group in the auto sector, expressed grief over the death of Ratan Tata at a time when the Indian economy is about to shift into high gear.

“The Indian economy is on the verge of a historic leap forward. And Ratan’s life and work have had a lot to do with our position in this situation,” Mahindra wrote on X.

“He was a businessman for whom financial wealth and success were most useful when they were at the service of the global community,” Mahindra said.

The chief minister of Maharashtra, home to the Tata Group’s headquarters in Mumbai, said Tata would be given a state funeral – an honor reserved mainly for the highest government officials – and called him an “invaluable gem”, said a CNBC translation of his post on X in Hindi.

Tata was chairman of Tata Sons from 1991 to December 2012. According to the company, the group’s revenue rose to more than $100 billion under his leadership.