Who is Ratan Tata?

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By Sarika Mitra

Mumbai, India(Pakistan News Online) Ratan Tata, one of India’s most legendary business personalities and the former chairman of Tata Group, passed away at the age of 86 in Mumbai after a long illness.

He was known for his leadership qualities; Tata was head of the Tata Group for over 20 years, leading the company to extraordinary heights in industries ranging from salt to software.

Early Life and Education

Ratan Tata earned a BS degree in Architecture from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, in 1962. He later joined the family business, and a decade later, became the chairman of Tata Industries.

In 1991, Tata took over as chairman of the Tata Group, succeeding his uncle J.R.D. Tata. Under his direction, the Tata Group expanded to employ over 600,000 people and generate over $100 billion in revenue annually.

A Life of Simplicity

Despite his vast wealth and success, Tata was known for his simplicity and down-to-earth personality. According to the book Tata Group by Girish Kabir, when Ratan Tata took over as the head of Tata Sons, he refused to use the luxurious office space reserved for the company owner, instead opting for a modest room. He was also known for his punctuality and would leave the office sharp at 6:30 PM each day.

Love for Animals

Tata never married and had a deep love for animals, particularly his two German Shepherds, Tito and Tango. His love for dogs was so profound that street dogs would follow him to his office in Bombay House and escort him to the elevator. In fact, Tata once declined a British award ceremony when his dog Tito fell ill, missing the event despite being set to receive the Rockefeller Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award.

Family and Early Struggles

Ratan Tata was raised by his grandmother, Lady Navajbai Tata, after his parents divorced when he was just 10 years old. In an interview, Ratan Tata disclosed that although the most of his childhood was spent in happiness, he and his brother had to face social disapproval because their parents divorced, which was not typical at the time. He carried with him throughout his life the sense of respect that his grandmother had instilled in him.

A Lost Love

Tata spent seven years in the United States, earning his degree and working in an architecture firm in Los Angeles. During this time, he nearly married an American woman. However, he returned to India to care for his ailing grandmother, and the relationship ended after the woman’s parents refused to let her move to India due to the ongoing 1962 Sino-Indian War. After this heartbreak, Tata remained single for the rest of his life.

Tata’s leadership, humility, and love for animals and family will be remembered as part of his incredible legacy.

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