HomeFeaturesRatan Tata, Indian Business Mogul, Dies At 86

Ratan Tata, Indian Business Mogul, Dies At 86

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Indian business tycoon Ratan Tata, widely acknowledged for his pivotal role in elevating the Tata Group to international prominence, has passed away at the age of 86, the company announced late Wednesday. His leadership and vision were instrumental in turning the Tata Group into a global industrial powerhouse.

Tata’s leadership saw the company flourish into an expansive global conglomerate, with interests ranging from the software sector to the production of premium sports cars.

“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,” company chairman N. Chandrasekaran said in a statement.

“I extend our condolences to his loved ones. His legacy will continue to inspire us as we strive to uphold the principles he so passionately championed.”

Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, hailed Tata as “an innovative business leader, a person of deep compassion, and an exceptional individual.”

The Prime Minister lauded Tata for delivering “reliable leadership to one of the country’s oldest and most respected corporate institutions.”

He conveyed that he was “very much pained” by the news of Tata’s passing and expressed his sympathies to Tata’s friends and family in a post on X.

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Born in 1937 in Bombay, now Mumbai, Tata originally planned to be an architect and was working in the United States when his grandmother — who raised him — asked him to return home and join the sprawling family business.

He started out in 1962 at TISCO, now known as Tata, staying in a hostel for apprentices and working on the shop floor near blast furnaces.

He took over the family empire in 1991, riding the wave of the radical free-market reforms India had just unleashed that year.

Tata’s 21 years at its helm saw the salt-to-steel conglomerate expand its global footprint to include British luxury brands such as Jaguar and Land Rover.

The Tata Group said his philanthropy work “touched the lives of millions.”

“From education to healthcare, his initiatives have left a deep-rooted mark that will benefit generations to come,” the company added.

In his statement, Modi said that Tata’s legacy stretches far beyond the business world.

“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,” the prime minister wrote, alongside a photo of the two men sitting next to each other and smiling.

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