Veteran industrialist and Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, Ratan Tata, passed away at the age of 86 at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai on Wednesday evening. He died at 11:30 p.m. after being in intensive care since Monday. Ratan Tata, a recipient of the prestigious Padma Vibhushan, led the Tata Group for over two decades, steering the company to new heights.
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Ratan Tata’s journey with the Tata Group began after he earned a B.S. in architecture from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, in 1962. A decade later, he became chairman of Tata Industries, and in 1991, he succeeded his uncle JRD Tata as chairman of the Tata Group, who had led the company for over 50 years. Under Ratan Tata’s leadership, the group evolved from its beginnings as a small textile and trading firm, founded in 1868, into a global giant. Its operations spanned across industries, from salt and steel to software, power plants, and airlines.
In 2008, Mumbai witnessed one of the most devastating terror attacks when 10 Pakistani terrorists entered the city by sea and launched attacks at key locations, including the Taj Hotel and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. This horrific event, orchestrated by Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed 166 lives and injured over 300 people. Among the victims were 33 people who died in the 60-hour siege at the Taj Hotel, 11 of whom were employees of the Tata Group.
Ratan Tata, who was 70 at the time, displayed remarkable strength and resolve during this tragic period. He was seen standing outside the Taj Hotel while security forces worked to eliminate the terrorists. After the attack, Tata pledged to rebuild the Taj Hotel and ensure the well-being of the families affected by the attack. According to the BBC, he arranged for the families of the deceased to receive the salaries their loved ones would have earned for the rest of their lives. In the months that followed, Tata Group also established The Taj Public Service Welfare Trust (TPSWT) to provide humanitarian support during disasters. Ratan Tata personally visited the homes of victims to ensure their needs were being met.
In 2020, on the 12th anniversary of the Mumbai terror attacks, Ratan Tata reflected on the tragic event, describing it as “wanton destruction” that would never be forgotten. In an Instagram post, he praised the unity of Mumbai’s people during the crisis. “The wanton destruction that took place 12 years ago today will never be forgotten. But what is more memorable, is the way Mumbai as a diverse people came together, casting aside all differences, to vanquish the terrorism and destruction on that day,” he wrote. Tata further emphasized the importance of cherishing the acts of kindness, unity, and bravery that were displayed during those difficult times, hoping that these values would continue to shine in the future.
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