The esteemed former chairman of Indian conglomerate Tata Sons Ratan Tata, has passed away at a Mumbai hospital on Wednesday night at the age of 86. His death was confirmed by N Chandrasekaran, the current chairman of Tata Sons, who described Tata as his “friend, mentor, and guide,” although he did not disclose the cause of death.
Tata had been admitted to Breach Candy Hospital earlier this week for age-related health checkups. Shortly after his hospitalization, he reassured the public that there was no cause for concern regarding his health.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Tata, calling him a visionary leader and a compassionate human being. “He provided stable leadership to one of India’s oldest and most prestigious business houses, and his contributions extended far beyond boardrooms,” Modi stated on X. He highlighted Tata’s humility, kindness, and dedication to societal betterment through his philanthropic efforts.
Industrialist Harsh Goenka referred to Tata as a “titan,” while Google CEO Sundar Pichai praised his extraordinary business and philanthropic legacy, noting that Tata played a crucial role in mentoring modern business leadership in India. “My last meeting with Ratan Tata at Google was inspiring,” Pichai shared.
Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, expressed his sorrow, stating, “It is a very sad day for India and India Inc. Ratan Tata’s passing is a significant loss, not just to the Tata Group, but to every Indian.” Anand Mahindra, chairman of the Mahindra Group, urged everyone to commit to emulating Tata’s exemplary values.
Ratan Tata was honored with the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008, two of India’s highest civilian awards, recognizing his immense contributions to business and philanthropy.
