Ratan Tata had retired as chairman of Tata Sons in 2012. He played an important role in transforming the Tata Group into a global behemoth focusing on steel, automobiles, IT, and much more.
Published Oct 09, 2024 | 10:44 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 09, 2024 | 11:41 PM
Ratan Tata: Defining leadership through humanity X/BlueKraft.
Ratan Naval Tata, Chairman Emeritus of the Tata Group, has been admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital in a critical condition.
According to reports, he is currently on life support. The nature of his illness has still not been disclosed.
On October 7, a post on X under his handle had said, “I am aware of recent rumours circulating regarding my health and want to assure everyone that these claims are unfounded. I am currently undergoing medical check-ups due to my age and related medical conditions.” The post signed by Mr. Tata also added, “There is no cause for concern. I remain in good spirits and request that the public and media respect refrain from spreading misinformation.”
The situation seems to have changed since.
86-year-old Ratan Tata had retired as chairman of Tata Sons in 2012. He played an important role in transforming the Tata Group into a global behemoth focusing on steel, automobiles, IT, and much more.
He has also been honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008.
“There are a host of reasons why Ratan Naval Tata is worthy of admiration, none more so than for the way he has sailed through the high tide of his life as head of the Tata group: with grace and a quiet dignity all too rare in the tumult and cacophony that characterise the mostly grubby, sometimes noble intersection of business and life in today’s India,” reads a page dedicated to Ratan Naval Tata on the official website of Tata group.
He took over as chairman of Tata Group in March 1991. More than 20 years, later he had changed the firm for the better. Under his leadership, that coincided with opening up of India’s economy with the LPG (Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation) policy of the then government, Tata Group rose to new heights and diversified further.
Born in 1937, Ratan Tata studied at Cornell University and received his Bachelors’ degree in Architecture. He started as an assistant in Tata industries in 1962 and spent six months training at the Jamshedpur plant of Tata Engineering and locomotive company, now called Tata Motors.
In 1963, he moved to Tata Iron and Steel Company and eventually became a technical officer in the engineering division in 1965. In 1969, he worked as the Tata group’s resident representative in Australia.
It was not until 1974 that he joined the board of Tata Sons as a director, after several stints within the company. It was after he became a Director at Tata Sons that he pursued Advance Management Program at Harvard Business School.
Between 1986 and 1989, Ratan Tata served as Chairman of Air India. A popular milestone in his professional life came when Tata Nano was launched in 2008 – the same year that he received the Padma Vibhushan. In December 2021, Ratan Tata stepped down as Chairman of Tata Sons after 50 years with the group.
(Edited by SF Desk)
