Hundreds Assemble to Honor Late Indian Business Icon, Ratan Tata

On Thursday, hundreds of people, including prominent corporate leaders, politicians, and celebrities, gathered in Mumbai to bid farewell to Ratan Tata, one of India’s most esteemed industrialists, who passed away at 86.

 Renowned for his sharp business insights and dedication to philanthropy, Tata served as the chairman of the Tata Group for over two decades, overseeing a conglomerate that reported $165 billion in revenue for the 2023-24 fiscal year.

Although in recent years Tata was not as active in the day-to-day running of the group, he was consulted on big decisions by the Tata Sons leadership, a senior company executive told Reuters.

Tata had been in a Mumbai hospital since Monday, but the cause of his death was not immediately made public.

After his death, tributes poured in from around the world, underlining his popularity that transcended boundaries and generations.

“India and the world have lost a giant with a giant heart,” U.S. ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said on X.

Ratan Tata’s body, draped in the Indian national flag, was placed at a cultural center in Mumbai, where mourners gathered ahead of his funeral, which will be held with full state honors later in the day. 

Among the early attendees paying tribute to the Padma Vibhushan recipient, India’s second-highest civilian honor, were central bank governor Shaktikanta Das, Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran, and Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla. 

A licensed pilot who occasionally flew the company’s aircraft, Tata was known for his humility, simple lifestyle, and extensive philanthropic efforts, remaining unmarried throughout his life.

Source: Reuters