The legendary Dr Ratan Tata is one of the few leaders who fueled India’s and the global economic growth to multiple folds in the past century. A visionary, with a heart of gold, zero haters, no controversies, who dedicated his life to charity has now reached heaven’s abode on the 9th of October 2024, in Mumbai. He is a man who taught the world to stay humble, with riches as his, valued all life forms dearly and respected everyone alike.
Born on December 28th, 1937, to Naval Tata and Sonoo Tata in Mumbai, he was the 5th chairman succeeding Sri JRD Tata of the Tata Group in 1962, founded by Sri Jamshedji Tata in 1868, and has been the forefront runner ever since. An institution in himself, Dr Ratan Tata set forth a successful journey to change the industrial face of India, with the revolutionary launch of India’s first automobile car, the Tata Indica in 1998, designed and assembled in India. This was done as a challenge to showcase to the world, that India can achieve great things and reach new heights.
After having been part of various institutions like NELCO and the Empress Mills he was transferred back to the TATA group and became its chairman in 1991. Along with heading this prestigious organization, he was part of the prestigious Prime Minister’s Council for Trade and Industry and was on the board of RAND for the APAC policy. He actively participated in the AIDS awareness program and became a member of the Mitsubishi Corporation advisory board for international groups like JP Morgan Chase, Booz Allen Hamilton and more.
After a successful stint as chairman at the Tata Group, he resigned from the board in 2012, and became interim chairman, with Cyrus Mistry succeeding him. Though he retired, it did not stop him from doing his philanthropic work by donating around 65 percent of his share to the underprivileged and various charitable trusts and continues to inspire thousands around the globe.
He was bestowed the prestigious Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan awards in the years 2000 and 2008 respectively for his contributions to the field of Philanthropy, Trade and Industrial development.
Internationally, he received the Honorary Knighthood by the Queen of England in 2014. Academic Honorary doctorates from several reputed universities and institutions such as the Asian Institute of Technology, University of Cambridge, IIT, Ohio State University and University of Warwick.
You will be astonished to know that these are just a few from the long list of awards and recognitions that he has achieved throughout his lifetime for his selfless efforts in bringing betterment and unanimity to mankind.
In his own words, “The greatest pleasure I have had is trying to do something that could not be done”. This go-getter attitude and his dedication to work selflessly have inspired thousands and will continue to do so in the years to come. We have not only lost one of the revolutionary leaders of this nation, but the greatest human being one can come across. To many, he is not known personally, yet his demise is a personal loss. Such is his charismatic character that brings tears within us and is one of the reasons that make us proud Indians. As we remember Dr Ratan Tata, we at Innovkraft extend our heartfelt condolences, honoring a legacy that will forever inspire innovation and compassion in our lives.
