INTRODUCTION

Born in Bombay (now Mumbai) on December 28, 1937, Ratan Tata was an Indian businessman who rose to prominence as chairman of the Tata Group, a conglomerate located in Mumbai, from 1991 to 2012 and from 2016 to 2017. He passed away on October 9, 2024, in Mumbai. In addition to being highly respected for his management of one of the biggest corporations in the nation, he was also well-liked for his moral character and charitable endeavors. Tata was considered a visionary leader, and his legacy of kindness and creativity reaches far beyond the corporate world to affect millions of everyday people. Two of India's greatest civilian awards, the Padma Vibhushan (2008) and the Padma Bhushan (2000), were given to him during his lifetime.

EDUCATION AND EARLY LIFE

Tata completed his high school education in New York City in 1955 after visiting several schools in Bombay. He continued on to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where he graduated with a B.S. in architecture in 1962. After that, he went back to work in India. He obtained his business training on the job, working for several Tata Group companies until being appointed director in charge of the National Radio and Electronics Co. in 1971. A decade later, he was chairman of Tata Industries, and in 1991 he succeeded his uncle, J.R.D. Tata, as chairman of Tata Sons, the Tata Group's parent company.

STEWARDSHIP OF THE TATA GROUP

Ratan Tata took over as chairman of Tata Sons during a pivotal juncture in the history of India's economic liberalization. The senior leadership that was in place put up strong resistance to his rise. By instituting a retirement age regulation, altering reporting hierarchies, and firing specific executives, he cemented his influence. Tata put a lot of effort into growing the conglomerate and was more concerned with taking its operations worldwide. The corporation paid $431.3 million to acquire Tetley Tea, a London-based company, in 2000. In 2004, it paid $102 million to acquire Daewoo Motors, a South Korean truck manufacturer.

AIR INDIA FLIES HOME

The group initially owned Air India, which was nationalized in 1953. The Tata Group won the bid to acquire Air India in 2021. For Tata, who had by then resigned as interim chairman, it was a poignant occasion.

CONCLUSION

On October 9, 2024, Ratan Tata departed from this life following a brief stay in the hospital due to age-related illnesses.