India Mourns the Loss of Business Legend

On Wednesday, India lost a truly remarkable figure – Ratan Tata, the former chairman of Tata Sons, passed away at the age of 86. Tributes flooded in from various quarters, highlighting his impact on both business and society. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Tata as a visionary business leader and a compassionate human being, noting that his contributions extended far beyond the boardroom. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, shared memories of their meeting, where they discussed Google’s self-driving car project. Pichai emphasized Tata’s legacy in business and philanthropy, acknowledging his role in mentoring modern business leadership in India. Tata, who held an architecture degree from Cornell University, joined the family business in 1962. He was commended for his global acquisitions, notably Jaguar-Land Rover in 2008. Mukesh Ambani, India’s wealthiest person and chairman of Reliance Group, expressed his condolences, calling Tata’s death a significant loss for India. “Tata took India to the world and brought the world’s best to India,” Ambani stated. Tata's philanthropic ventures were noteworthy; he served as chairman of Tata Trusts, one of the largest charity organizations in India. Current Tata Sons chairman, N. Chandrasekaran, expressed his grief, saying, “Tata’s dedication to philanthropy transformed countless lives, in areas from education to healthcare. His initiatives will benefit future generations. ” Tata's strategic acquisitions helped the Tata Group expand globally, making him an instrumental figure in India’s business landscape.