Indian business tycoon Ratan Tata has died at the age of eighty-six, according to the Tata Group, the company he oversaw for more than twenty years.
Tata was one of the most well-known Indian businessmen worldwide. Surpassing $100 billion (£76.5 billion) in revenue annually, the Tata Group is among the biggest corporations in India.
In a statement, the current chairman of Tata Sons described Ratan Tata as a "truly uncommon leader."
Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons, extended "deepest condolences" to Tata's loved ones on behalf of the Tata family.
Chandrasekaran said, "His legacy will continue to inspire us as we strive to uphold the principles he so passionately championed."
The Tata Group made major purchases under Ratan Tata's direction, notably the acquisition of the Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus.
Other noteworthy purchases were Tetley, the second-largest tea manufacturer in the world, and the UK-based automakers Jaguar and Land Rover.
UIn his eulogy, UK commercial Secretary Jonathan Reynolds called Tata a "titan of the business world" who had an enormous impact on British industry.
Tata was praised as a "titan" in an Economist profile from 2011 for turning the Tata family business into a "global powerhouse."
Despite owning less than 1% of the company, Tata was described in the profile as "the most powerful businessman in India and one of the most influential in the world."
Ratan Tata retired as chairman of the group in 2012 and was appointed chairman emeritus of Tata Sons.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Tata as a "visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being."
Modi, in his tribute on X (formerly Twitter), said he was "extremely pained" by Tata’s passing and recalled their "countless interactions."
Ratan Tata was born in a traditional Parsi family in 1937.
He studied architecture and structural engineering at Cornell University in the United States.
In 1962, he joined Tata Industries, the group’s promoter company, as an assistant and spent six months training in Jamshedpur.
Later on, he held positions with National Radio and Electronics (Nelco), Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and Tata Iron and Steel Company (now Tata Steel).
After more than 50 years as the group's leader, JRD Tata named Ratan Tata his successor in 1991.
Tata regarded JRD as his greatest mentor, describing him as "like a father and a brother" in an interview.
In 2008, the Indian government honored Tata with the **Padma Vibhushan**, the country’s second-highest civilian award.
Peter Casey, author of The Story of Tata, described him as a "modest, reserved and even shy man" with a "stately calm" and "fierce discipline."
Despite being drawn into controversy in 2016 over the ousting of Cyrus Mistry, Tata was known for his simplicity and lighter side, with passions for fast cars, planes, scuba diving, and his deep love for dogs. (BBC)
