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NATION                                                              OCTOBER 18, 2024       |  The Indian Eye                    8


                                       RATAN TATA (1937-2024)




          How a titan of industry touched lives of millions




              with innovation, philanthropy and humanism




          Ratan Tata began restructuring of Tata group in 1991 and from 2000 onwards, the growth and

                         globalization drive of the Tata group gathered pace under his stewardship



        OUR BUREAU
        Mumbai

              atan N Tata was among India’s most respect-
              ed and loved industrialists, who took Tata
        RGroup to new heights and touched the fabric
        of the nation through his contributions across differ-
        ent areas including philanthropy. One of the most
        internationally well-known Indian business leaders,
        Ratan Tata was known for his humility and compas-
        sion while also his vision, business acumen, integrity
        and ethical leadership.
            He was awarded Padma Vibhushan, the coun-
        try’s second-highest civilian honor, in 2008. He took
        over as Chairman of Tata Sons and Chairman of the
        Tata trusts in 1991, a year when India’s economy
        opened up through a series of economic reforms.
        He made use of the opportunities it presented while
        dealing with challenges.
            He served as the chairman of Tata Group for
        more than two decades till he retired in 2012.
            Born to Naval and Soonoo Tata on December
        28, 1937, Ratan Tata and his younger brother, Jim-
        my, were brought up by their grandmother, Nava-
        jbai R Tata, in a baroque manor called Tata Palace
        in downtown Mumbai.
            Ratan Tata left for Cornell University in the
        United States at age 17 and studied architecture                         Ratan Tata with a model of Nano (ANI file photo)
        and engineering over a seven-year period. He was
        awarded bachelor of architecture degree in 1962.  1971. He joined the board of Tata Sons as a director   He announced that the Nano base variant would be
            His years in America from 1955 to 1962 influ-  in 1974. A year later he completed the Advanced   priced at Rs 1 lakh (ex-factory).
        enced him tremendously. He travelled the country  Management Program at Harvard Business School.  Ratan Tata stepped down as Chairman of Tata
        and was charmed by California and that West Coast   Ratan Tata was appointed Chairman of Tata   Sons after 50 years with the Tata group and was ap-
        lifestyle he was ready to settle down in Los Angeles.  Industries in 1981 and began the process of trans-  pointed Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons.
        The spell was broken when Navajbai’s health de-  forming it into a promoter of high-technology busi-  Ratan Tata inspired by example and had a com-
        teriorated and he was forced to return to a life he  nesses. He drafted Tata strategic plan in 1983. From   mitment to excellence and innovation.
        thought he had left behind.                  1986 to 1989, he served as Chairman of Air India,   N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons, said
            Back in India, Ratan Tata had a job offer from  the national carrier.                  that Tata Group under stewardship of Ratan Tata
        IBM.  Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy (JRD) Tata was   Ratan Tata began restructuring of Tata group   expanded its global footprint while remaining true
        not amused and after Ratan Tata sent a resume,  in 1991 and from 2000 onwards, the growth and   to its moral compass.
        was offered a job, in 1962, with Tata Industries, the  globalization drive of the Tata group gathered pace   “Mr Tata’s dedication to philanthropy and the
        promoter company of the group.  Ratan Tata spent  under his stewardship. The new millennium saw a   development of society has touched the lives of mil-
        six months at Telco, now called Tata Motors, before  string of high-profile Tata acquisitions, among them   lions. From education to healthcare, his initiatives
        joining Tisco, now Tata Steel, in 1963.      Tetley, Corus, Jaguar Land Rover, Brunner Mond,   have left a deep-rooted mark that will benefit gener-
            He  was  appointed  technical  officer  in  Tisco’s  General Chemical Industrial Products and Daewoo.  ations to come. Reinforcing all of this work was Mr
        engineering division in 1965 and in 1969 worked as   In 2008, he launched the Tata Nano. The launch   Tata’s genuine humility in every individual interac-
        the Tata group’s resident representative in Australia.  of world’s most easy-on-pocket car made headlines   tion,” he said in his tributes.
            In 1970, Ratan Tata returned to India and  globally.   He guided and commanded with zeal and   People across various sections of life, leaders
        joined Tata Consultancy Services, then a software  determination the trailblazing small car project. He   cutting across the political spectrum and industri-
        fledgling, for a short stint and became the director  said everyone had been referring to the Nano as a ‘1   alists in India and abroad paid glowing tributes to
        of National Radio and Electronics (NELCO) in  lakh car’ and noted that “a promise was a promise”.   Ratan Tata who passed away on Wednesday evening.


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