Figuratively, a banyan tree has fallen; and the earth shook. When Ratan Tata passed away at the ripe old age of 87, the business world in India and around the world took a hit. After JRD Tata — the founder of the Tata empire — named Ratan his successor in 1991. He led India’s most-respected business conglomerate for over 20 years, helping to take it to new heights. Today, the Tata group stands as a global phenomenon with an annual revenue of more than $100billion. JRD Tata was India’s numero uno business honcho and star attraction for decades after Independence. The entity could retain its reputation in recent decades too but others like the Ambanis and Adanis came up front and started getting more noticed. Ambani’s wealth creation ran somewhat parallel to the Tata Group in recent years. The Adanis too spread their nets far and wide. Yet, no other business entity in India could as yet claim a respect matching that of the Tata Group, a legacy left behind by JRD and zealously maintained by Ratan Tata. Fair play coupled with trust was integral to their business forays and ethics a central management concern.
Ratan Tata’s mental engagement in his post-retirement phase was mainly in philanthropic activities, in matching with the high principles of a love for humanity he held aloft in both life and business. His passing away has left a void that’s difficult to fill. This may also have to do with his upbringing. Having been born in an ordinary Parsi family, he lost his parents at around age 10 and was left to the care of his grand-mother. She educated him in the US, followed by his joining as an apprentice with the Tata Steel in Jamshedpur, a shift to the TCS and to other arms of the group in due course. His stewardship of the group saw major global acquisitions including the takeover of Corus, the Anglo-Dutch steelmaker; equally importantly the British car brands like Jaguar and Land Rover; and Tetley, the world’s second largest tea company. Tatas had for long been into steel, cars and tea. Several of the Tata car brands were not a success. The introduction of the ‘cheapest’ car in the form of Nano too failed. However, the group made major breaks after its tie-up with the Land Rover. Ratan Tata’s role in this deal is a story in itself. Even after retirement, he was closely associated with the group in the capacity of Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons.
Ratan Tata was drawn into a controversy only once – when his successor Cyrus Mistry was removed from the chairman’s post of Tata Sons in 2016. However, respect for him remained undiminished. Ratan, the Titan – a brand linked to the group’s jewellery, watches and eyewear segments – will live on in our memories.
