Indian tycoon Ratan Tata dies aged 86

Ratan Tata, the Indian business magnate, has passed away at the age of 86, according to a statement from the Tata Group, the large corporation he managed for over twenty years.

Tata was one of the most globally recognized business figures in India.

The Tata Group ranks among the biggest companies in India, generating over $100 billion (£76.5 billion) in revenue each year.

In a statement released regarding Tata's passing, the present chairman of Tata Sons referred to him as an "exceptionally rare leader."

Natarajan Chandrasekaran expressed, "I want to convey our heartfelt sympathies to his family and friends on behalf of the entire Tata family."

"His legacy will keep motivating us as we work to maintain the values he fervently supported."

While serving as chairman of the Tata Group, the company completed a number of notable acquisitions, such as purchasing the Anglo-Dutch steel company Corus, acquiring the UK car manufacturers Jaguar and Land Rover, and taking over Tetley, which is the second-largest tea brand globally.

An article featured in the Economist magazine in 2011 referred to Tata as a "giant," acknowledging his role in turning the family business into a formidable global influence.

"Although he holds less than 1% of the company that carries his family's name, he is still a giant in his field: the leading business figure in India and among the most impactful globally," the publication stated.

In 2012, he stepped down as chairman of the organization and was named chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, which is the holding company for the group.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Tata as a "forward-thinking business leader, a caring individual, and an exceptional person."

In a heartfelt message on X, previously known as Twitter, Modi shared that he had numerous meaningful exchanges with Tata and expressed his deep sorrow over Tata's passing.

Tata was born into a conventional Parsi family in 1937. He pursued his studies in architecture and structural engineering at Cornell University in the United States.

In 1962, he began working at Tata Industries, the company that promotes the group, taking on the role of an assistant. He dedicated six months to training at a manufacturing facility in Jamshedpur.

After that, he moved on to positions at Tata Iron and Steel Company (now known as Tata Steel), Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and National Radio and Electronics (Nelco).

In 1991, JRD Tata, who had guided the company for more than fifty years, chose Ratan Tata to take over his role. Ratan Tata later shared in an interview, "He [JRD Tata] was my most significant mentor... he felt like both a father and a brother to me – and I feel that doesn’t get acknowledged enough."

In 2008, the Indian government honored him with the Padma Vibhushan, which is the second-highest civilian award in the country.

Peter Casey, who wrote The Story of Tata, portrayed Tata as a "humble, introverted, and somewhat bashful individual." He noted that Tata exuded a "dignified tranquility" paired with a "strong sense of discipline."

In 2016, he found himself caught up in an unusual and unpleasant controversy when Cyrus Mistry, who succeeded him as chairman of Tata Sons, was removed from his position. This led to a contentious clash within the company's management. Tragically, Mistry passed away in a car accident in 2022.

The successful entrepreneur also had a playful side. He was famously enthusiastic about fast cars and airplanes, which the Tata group website refers to as some of his "lasting interests."

Tata was passionate about scuba diving, but over time, he had to give it up because his ears couldn't handle the pressure anymore.

He had a deep affection for dogs and often reminisced about the numerous pets that accompanied him throughout the years.

In a 2021 interview, the industrialist expressed, "My passion for having dogs as companions remains unwavering and will last for my entire life."

"I feel an overwhelming sense of sorrow whenever one of my pets dies, and I tell myself I can’t bear to experience that loss again. However, after a couple of years, my home feels too empty and too still without them, so I find myself welcoming another dog into my life, giving it the same love and care I did for the previous one," he shared.

He frequently received compliments for his down-to-earth nature. In 2022, a video of him riding in a Nano car—known as one of the most affordable cars in the world, now largely seen as a symbol of Tata's unfulfilled aspirations—became a sensation on social media.