Ratan Naval Tata (28 December 1937 9 October 2024) was an Indian industrialist and philanthropist. He served as the chairman of
Tata Group
The Tata Group () is an Indian multinational conglomerate group of companies headquartered in Mumbai. Established in 1868, it is India's largest business conglomerate, with products and services in over 160 countries, and operations in 100 c ...
and
Tata Sons
Tata Sons Pvt. Ltd. is the holding company of the Tata Group, headquartered in Mumbai. It owns the bulk of shareholding in the Tata group of companies including their land holdings across India, tea estates and steel plants, and derives its reve ...
from 1991 to 2012 and he held the position of interim chairman from October 2016 to February 2017. In 2000, he received the
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan (IAST: ''Padma Bhūṣaṇa'', lit. 'Lotus Decoration') is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 Januar ...
, the third highest civilian honour in India, followed by the
Padma Vibhushan
The Padma Vibhushan ( , lit. "Lotus Grandeur") is the second-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "exceptional and distinguished service". All persons w ...
, the country's second highest civilian honour, in 2008.
Ratan Tata was the son of
Naval Tata, who was adopted by
Ratanji Tata
Sir Ratanji Jamsetji Tata (20 January 1871 – 5 September 1918) was an Indian industrialist and philanthropist during the British Raj. He was the younger son of Jamsetji Tata, the founder of the Tata Group.
Biography
Ratanji Tata was born ...
, son of
Jamshedji Tata, the founder of the Tata Group. He graduated from
Cornell University College of Architecture with a bachelor's degree in architecture. He had also attended the
Harvard Business School (HBS) Advanced Management program in 1975.
He joined the
Tata Group
The Tata Group () is an Indian multinational conglomerate group of companies headquartered in Mumbai. Established in 1868, it is India's largest business conglomerate, with products and services in over 160 countries, and operations in 100 c ...
in 1962, starting on the shop floor of
Tata Steel
Tata Steel Limited is an Indian multinational steel-making company headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, with its primary operations based in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. It is a subsidiary of the Tata Group.
Formerly known as Tata Iron and Steel ...
. He later succeeded
J. R. D. Tata
Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata (29 July 1904 – 29 November 1993) was a French born Indian industrialist, philanthropist, aviator and former chairman of Tata Group.
Born into the Tata family of India, he was the son of noted businessman Rat ...
as chairman of Tata Sons upon the latter's retirement in 1991. During his tenure, the Tata Group acquired
Tetley
Tetley is an English beverage manufacturer founded in 1837 in Yorkshire. It is the largest company of tea in the United Kingdom and Canada, and the second-largest in the United States by volume.
Since 2000, Tetley has been a wholly owned subs ...
,
Jaguar Land Rover
Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC is the holding company of Jaguar Land Rover, also known as JLR, and is a British multinational automobile manufacturer which produces luxury vehicles and SUVs and has its head office in Whitley, Coventry, Unite ...
, and
Corus, in an attempt to turn Tata from a largely India-centric group into a global business.
Throughout his life, Tata invested in over 40 start-ups, primarily in a personal capacity, with additional investments through his firm, RNT Capital Advisors.
Early life and education
Ratan Tata was born in Bombay (now
Mumbai
Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...
), during the
British Raj
The British Raj ( ; from Hindustani language, Hindustani , 'reign', 'rule' or 'government') was the colonial rule of the British The Crown, Crown on the Indian subcontinent,
*
* lasting from 1858 to 1947.
*
* It is also called Crown rule ...
, into a
Parsi
The Parsis or Parsees () are a Zoroastrian ethnic group in the Indian subcontinent. They are descended from Persian refugees who migrated to the Indian subcontinent during and after the Arab-Islamic conquest of Iran in the 7th century, w ...
Zoroastrian
Zoroastrianism ( ), also called Mazdayasnā () or Beh-dīn (), is an Iranian religion centred on the Avesta and the teachings of Zarathushtra Spitama, who is more commonly referred to by the Greek translation, Zoroaster ( ). Among the wo ...
family, on 28 December 1937. He was the son of
Naval Tata (who was born in
Surat
Surat (Gujarati Language, Gujarati: ) is a city in the western Indian States and territories of India, state of Gujarat. The word Surat directly translates to ''face'' in Urdu, Gujarati language, Gujarati and Hindi. Located on the banks of t ...
and later adopted into the Tata family), and Soonoo Tata (the niece of Tata group founder
Jamsetji Tata
Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata (3 March 1839 – 19 May 1904) was an Indian industrialist and philanthropist who founded the Tata Group, India's largest conglomerate. He established the city of Jamshedpur.
Born into a Zoroastrian Parsi family in ...
). Tata's biological grandfather, Hormusji Tata was a member of the Tata family by blood. In 1948, when Tata was 10, his parents separated, and he was subsequently raised and adopted by Navajbai Tata, his grandmother and widow of Ratanji Tata. He had a younger brother Jimmy Tata and a half-brother,
Noel Tata
Noel Naval Tata (born 1957) is an Irish businessman. He is the chairman of the Tata Trusts, Trent and Tata Investment Corporation, the managing director of Tata International, and the vice chairman of Titan Company and Tata Steel.
On 11 Oc ...
, from Naval Tata's second marriage to his stepmother
Simone Tata
Simone Naval Tata () is an Indian businesswoman, and a member of the Tata family.
Simone Tata was born in 1930, and brought up in Geneva, Switzerland and graduated from Geneva University. She visited India as a tourist in 1953, where she met ...
and two half-sisters Shireen and Deanna Jeejebhoy from Soonoo Tata's second marriage.
Tata studied at the
Campion School, Mumbai
Campion School is a Private school, private Catholic school, Catholic primary and secondary school for boys located at 13 Cooperage Road, Mumbai, in the state of Maharashtra, India. Established in 1943 by Jesuit Fr. Joseph Savall, the school is ...
until 8th grade. He then continued his studies at the
Cathedral and John Connon School
The Cathedral and John Connon School is a co-educational private school founded in 1860 and located in Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra.[Mumbai
Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...](_blank)
, the
Bishop Cotton School (Shimla), Bishop Cotton School in
Shimla
Shimla, also known as Simla ( the official name until 1972), is the capital and the largest city of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of British India. After independence, the city ...
, and the
Riverdale Country School
Riverdale Country School is a co-educational, independent, college-preparatory day school in New York City serving pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. It is located on two campuses covering more than in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, Ne ...
in New York City, from which he graduated in 1955.
After high school, Tata enrolled in
Cornell University
Cornell University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university based in Ithaca, New York, United States. The university was co-founded by American philanthropist Ezra Cornell and historian and educator Andrew Dickson W ...
, from which he graduated with a bachelor's degree in architecture in 1962. While at Cornell,
Tata became a member of the
Alpha Sigma Phi
Alpha Sigma Phi (), commonly known as Alpha Sig, is an intercollegiate men's social Fraternities and sororities, fraternity. Founded in 1845 at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, it is the tenth oldest social fraternity in the United Sta ...
fraternity. In 1975, Tata enrolled in the Advanced Management Program at
Harvard Business School (HBS). In 2008, Tata gifted Cornell $50 million, becoming the largest international donor in the university's history. Tata also donated $50 million to
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School (HBS) is the graduate school, graduate business school of Harvard University, a Private university, private Ivy League research university. Located in Allston, Massachusetts, HBS owns Harvard Business Publishing, which p ...
,
Harvard University
Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...
to establish an executive center, which is now called Tata Hall that supports over 9,000 executive education students each year.
Career
Early years
In 2004 Tata met architect
A. Quincy Jones who spent three weeks as architecture design critic at Cornell. After completing Cornell, Tata briefly joined Jones at his firm Jones & Emmons in Los Angeles. While Tata was planning to settle in Los Angeles, he was called back to India by his grandmother.
Later years
In the 1970s, Ratan Tata was given a managerial position in the Tata group. He achieved initial success by turning the subsidiary National Radio and Electronics (NELCO) around, only to see it collapse during an economic slowdown.
In 1991,
J. R. D. Tata
Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata (29 July 1904 – 29 November 1993) was a French born Indian industrialist, philanthropist, aviator and former chairman of Tata Group.
Born into the Tata family of India, he was the son of noted businessman Rat ...
stepped down as chairman of Tata Sons, naming him his successor. Initially, Tata faced stiff resistance from the heads of various subsidiaries, who had a large amount of operational freedom under the senior Tata's tenure. In response, Tata implemented a number of policies designed to consolidate power, including the implementation of a retirement age, having subsidiaries report directly to the group office, and requiring subsidiaries to contribute their profit to building the Tata group brand. Tata prioritised innovation and delegated many responsibilities to younger talent.
Under his leadership, overlapping operations between subsidiaries were streamlined into company-wide operations, with the group exiting unrelated businesses to take on globalisation.
During the 21 years Tata led the Tata Group, revenue grew over 40 times, and profit over 50 times.
When he took over the company, sales overwhelmingly comprised commodity sales, but at the end of his tenure, the majority of sales came from brands. He had
Tata Tea
Tata Consumer Products Limited is an Indian fast-moving consumer goods company and a part of the Tata Group. Its registered office is located in Kolkata while its corporate headquarters is in Mumbai. It is the world's second-largest manufactur ...
acquire
Tetley
Tetley is an English beverage manufacturer founded in 1837 in Yorkshire. It is the largest company of tea in the United Kingdom and Canada, and the second-largest in the United States by volume.
Since 2000, Tetley has been a wholly owned subs ...
,
Tata Motors
Tata Motors Limited is an Indian Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive company, headquartered in Mumbai and part of the Tata Group. The company produces passenger cars, cars, trucks, vans, and busses, buses.
T ...
acquire
Jaguar Land Rover
Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC is the holding company of Jaguar Land Rover, also known as JLR, and is a British multinational automobile manufacturer which produces luxury vehicles and SUVs and has its head office in Whitley, Coventry, Unite ...
, and
Tata Steel
Tata Steel Limited is an Indian multinational steel-making company headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, with its primary operations based in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. It is a subsidiary of the Tata Group.
Formerly known as Tata Iron and Steel ...
acquire
Corus. These acquisitions repositioned Tata from a largely India-centric group into a global business, with over 65% of revenues coming from operations and sales internationally.
He also conceptualised and spearheaded the development of the
Tata Nano
The Tata Nano is a city car/microcar manufactured and marketed by Indian automaker Tata Motors over a single generation from 2008–2018, primarily in India, as an inexpensive rear-engine hatchback for motorcycle and scooter drivers — wit ...
car after the grand success of Diesel
Tata Indica
The Tata Indica (from "Indian Car") is a B-segment car launched by the Indian manufacturer Tata Motors in 1998. It was the first Indian hatchback with a diesel engine. It was the first passenger hatchback from Tata Motors, with previous models bei ...
, which helped put cars at a price-point within reach of the average Indian consumer.
Tata Motors
Tata Motors Limited is an Indian Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive company, headquartered in Mumbai and part of the Tata Group. The company produces passenger cars, cars, trucks, vans, and busses, buses.
T ...
has since rolled out the first batch of Tigor Electric Vehicles from its
Sanand Plant in Gujarat, which Tata has described as to "fast-forward India's electric dream."
Upon turning 75, Ratan Tata resigned his executive powers in the Tata group on 28 December 2012. An ensuing leadership crisis over his succession drew intense media scrutiny. The board of directors of the company appointed his successor,
Cyrus Mistry
Cyrus Pallonji Mistry (4 July 1968 – 4 September 2022) was an Indian-born Irish billionaire businessman. He was the chairman of the Tata Group, an Indian business conglomerate, from 2012 to 2016. He was the sixth chairman of the group, ...
, a relative of Tata and the son of Pallonji Mistry of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, which was the largest individual shareholder of the Tata group. On 24 October 2016, Cyrus Mistry was removed as chairman of Tata Sons, and Ratan Tata was made interim chairman. A selection committee, which included Tata as a member, was formed to find a successor. On 12 January 2017,
Natarajan Chandrasekaran
Natarajan Chandrasekaran (born 2 June 1963) is an Indian businessman, and the chairman of Tata Sons and Tata Group. He was chief operating officer (COO) and executive director of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), where in 2009, he became chief ...
was named as the chairman of Tata Sons, a role he assumed in February 2017. In February 2017, Mistry was removed as a director for Tata Sons.
The
National Company Law Appellate Tribunal
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) is a tribunal which was formed by the Central Government of India under Section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013. The NCLAT was formed as a body with an appellate jurisdiction at the same time wh ...
later found in December 2019 that the removal of Cyrus Mistry as the chairman of Tata Sons was illegal, and ordered that he be reinstated.
On appeal, India's Supreme Court upheld the dismissal of
Cyrus Mistry
Cyrus Pallonji Mistry (4 July 1968 – 4 September 2022) was an Indian-born Irish billionaire businessman. He was the chairman of the Tata Group, an Indian business conglomerate, from 2012 to 2016. He was the sixth chairman of the group, ...
.
Tata had also invested in multiple companies. He had invested in
Snapdeal
Snapdeal is an Indian e-commerce company, based in New Delhi, India. It was founded in February 2010 by Kunal Bahl and Rohit Bansal.
Snapdeal is one of the top 5 online marketplaces in India. Snapdeal targets the value e-commerce segment, w ...
– one of India's leading e-commerce websites. In January 2016, he invested in Teabox, an online premium Indian Tea seller, and CashKaro.com, a discount coupons and cash-back website. He had made small investments in both early and late stage companies in India, such as INR 0.95 Cr in Ola Cabs. In April 2015, it was reported that Tata had acquired a stake in Chinese smartphone startup
Xiaomi
Xiaomi (; ) is a Chinese multinational corporation and technology company headquartered in Beijing, China. It is best known for consumer electronics software electric vehicles. It is the second-largest manufacturer of smartphones in the worl ...
. In 2016, he invested in Nestaway an online real-estate portal that later acquired ''Zenify'' to start the online real-estate and pet-care portal, ''Dogspot''. Tata also launched a companionship startup for senior citizens named ''Goodfellows'', to encourage intergenerational friendships.
Philanthropic Contributions and Endowments
Tata was a supporter of education, medicine and
rural development
Rural development is the process of improving the quality of life, quality of life and economic well-being of people living in rural areas, often relatively isolated and sparsely populated areas. Often, rural regions have experienced rural povert ...
, and considered a leading philanthropist in India. Ratan Tata was the highest international donor to the Cornell University.
1984 Anti-Sikh Pogrom victims
In the aftermath of the
1984 Anti-Sikh Riots
The 1984 anti-Sikh riots, also known as the 1984 Sikh massacre, was a series of organised pogroms against Sikhs in India following the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards. Government estimates project that about 2,800 Sikhs w ...
, Ratan Tata extended his support to affected Sikh survivors by donating trucks through
Tata Motors
Tata Motors Limited is an Indian Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive company, headquartered in Mumbai and part of the Tata Group. The company produces passenger cars, cars, trucks, vans, and busses, buses.
T ...
. This enabled Sikh truck drivers who had lost their vehicles during the violence to regain their livelihoods. His charitable donation enabled many Sikh victims to rebuild their lives and businesses. Following this act,
Sikh
Sikhs (singular Sikh: or ; , ) are an ethnoreligious group who adhere to Sikhism, a religion that originated in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, based on the revelation of Guru Nanak. The term ''Si ...
drivers in Punjab and other parts of India continue to remain loyal customers of Tata trucks.
University of New South Wales
Tata supported
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales (UNSW) is a public research university based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was established in 1949.
The university comprises seven faculties, through which it offers bachelor's, master's and docto ...
Faculty of Engineering to develop capacitive deionisation to provide improved water for challenged areas.
University of California

Tata Hall at the
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego in communications material, formerly and colloquially UCSD) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in San Diego, California, United States. Es ...
(UC San Diego) is a state-of-the-art research facility that was opened in November 2018. The building is named after the
Tata Trusts
Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT) was founded in 1919 with a sum of Indian currency 8 million. It was under the Ownership of Ratan Tata until his death. Noel Tata was appointed as the Chairman of the Tata Trusts on 11 October 2024, post the demise o ...
, which donated $70 million to UC San Diego in 2016 to establish the Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS), which is housed within the building. The Tata Institute for Genetics and Society at UC San Diego is a joint initiative between the Tata Trusts and UC San Diego. It aims to address some of the world's most pressing problems, such as the spread of infectious diseases and the need for sustainable food sources. The research conducted at the institute focuses on a range of topics, including gene editing, stem cell therapy, and disease control.
Tata Hall at the UC San Diego is a 4-storey building that is spread over 128,000 square feet and houses research facilities for the biological and physical sciences. The building has laboratories, offices, and meeting spaces that are designed to foster collaboration and innovation among researchers. It is a
LEED-certified building; designed to be environmentally sustainable and energy-efficient.
Tata Education and Development Trust
Tata Education and Development Trust, a philanthropic affiliate of Tata Group, endowed a $28 million Tata Scholarship Fund that will allow
Cornell University
Cornell University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university based in Ithaca, New York, United States. The university was co-founded by American philanthropist Ezra Cornell and historian and educator Andrew Dickson W ...
to provide financial aid to undergraduate students from India. The scholarship fund will support approximately 20 scholars at any given time and will ensure that the very best Indian students have access to Cornell, regardless of their financial circumstances. The scholarship will be awarded annually; recipients will receive it for the duration of their undergraduate study at Cornell.
Executive center at Harvard Business School
In 2010 Tata Group companies and Tata charities donated $50 million for the construction of an executive center at
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School (HBS) is the graduate school, graduate business school of Harvard University, a Private university, private Ivy League research university. Located in Allston, Massachusetts, HBS owns Harvard Business Publishing, which p ...
(HBS).
The executive center has been named
Tata Hall, after Ratan Tata.
The total construction costs have been estimated at $100 million.
Tata Hall is located in the northeast corner of the HBS campus, and is devoted to the Harvard Business School's mid-career executive education program. It is seven stories tall, and about 155,000 gross square feet. It houses approximately 180 bedrooms, in addition to academic and multi-purpose spaces.
Tata Innovation Center at Cornell Tech
The Tata Innovation Center at
Cornell Tech
Cornell Tech is a graduate campus and research center of Cornell University on Roosevelt Island in Manhattan, New York City. It provides courses in technology, business, and design, and includes the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute, a partners ...
is named after Ratan Tata, and mixes academics and industry in a building on the Roosevelt Island campus. The seven-floor structure is meant primarily as a business incubator for students, faculty, and staff, with 70% of the building being commercially leased and 30% devoted to academic space.
Tata Consultancy Services
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is an Indian Multinational corporation, multinational technology company specializing in information technology services and consulting. Headquartered in Mumbai, it is a part of the Tata Group and operates in 150 ...
(TCS) is a tenant in the space.
Indian Institute of Technology
In 2014, Tata Group endowed the
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT- Bombay or IIT-B) is a public research university and technical institute in Powai, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
IIT Bombay is mainly known for the highly competitive four-year Bachelor of Techno ...
with ₹950 million and formed the Tata Centre for Technology and Design (TCTD) to develop design and engineering principles suited to the needs of people and communities with limited resources.
Indian Centre for Neuroscience
Tata Trusts under the chairmanship of Ratan Tata provided a grant of ₹750 million to the Centre for Neuroscience,
Indian Institute of Science
The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is a Public university, public, Deemed university, deemed, research university for higher education and research in science, engineering, design, and management. It is located in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The ...
to study mechanisms underlying the cause of Alzheimer's disease and to evolve methods for its early diagnosis and treatment. This grant was to be spread over 5 years starting in 2014.
MIT Tata Center of Technology and Design
Tata Group, under the leadership of Ratan Tata formed the MIT Tata Center of Technology and Design at
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a Private university, private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Established in 1861, MIT has played a significant role in the development of many areas of moder ...
(MIT) with a mission to address the challenges of resource-constrained communities, with an initial focus on India.
Cornell University
Ratan Tata was the highest international donor to the Cornell University.
Cornell University paid tribute to its alumnus Ratan Tata, honouring his leadership, philanthropy, and contributions to education and research, particularly through the Tata-Cornell Institute for Agriculture and Nutrition.
Contributions to Taj Hotel Staff Victims
Following the
attack on the
Taj Mahal Palace Hotel
The Taj Mahal Palace is a heritage, five-star, luxury hotel in the Colaba area of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, situated next to the Gateway of India. Built in the Indo-Saracenic style, it opened in 1903 as the Taj Mahal Hotel and has historically ...
in November 2008 by Pakistan based terrorists of
Lashkar-e-Taiba
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) is a Pakistani Islamism, Islamist militant organization driven by a Salafi jihadism, Salafi jihadist ideology. The organisation's primary stated objective is to merge the whole of Kashmir with Pakistan. It was founded in 19 ...
, Tata decided to restore the heritage of the hotel as well as financially support the families of people who lost their lives in the attack, even personally visiting the homes of victims to ensure their well-being. During the carnage, Tata also chose to wait outside the Taj Hotel for three days until the operation concluded.
Board memberships and affiliations
Ratan Tata was the interim chairman of
Tata Sons
Tata Sons Pvt. Ltd. is the holding company of the Tata Group, headquartered in Mumbai. It owns the bulk of shareholding in the Tata group of companies including their land holdings across India, tea estates and steel plants, and derives its reve ...
. He headed the main two Tata trusts
Sir Dorabji Tata and Allied Trusts
The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust was established by Sir Dorab Tata (fondly called ''Sir Dorabji''), the elder son of Tata Group founder Jamsetji Tata. Founded in 1932, it is one of the oldest non-sectarian philanthropic organisations in India.
Hist ...
and
Sir Ratan Tata Trust
Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT) was founded in 1919 with a sum of Indian currency 8 million. It was under the Ownership of Ratan Tata until his death. Noel Tata was appointed as the Chairman of the Tata Group#Tata Trusts, Tata Trusts on 11 October ...
and their allied trusts, with a combined stake of 66% in Tata Sons, Tata group's holding company.
He served in various capacities in organisations in India and abroad. He was a member of Prime Minister's 'Council on Trade and Industry' and the 'National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council'. He was on the jury panel of
Pritzker Architecture Prize
The Pritzker Architecture Prize is an international award presented annually "to honor a living architect or architects whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment which has produced consisten ...
– considered to be one of the world's premier architecture prizes.
Over the years, Tata had served on the
Cornell University
Cornell University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university based in Ithaca, New York, United States. The university was co-founded by American philanthropist Ezra Cornell and historian and educator Andrew Dickson W ...
Board of Trustees, personally advising the school's administration in matters of international involvement, particularly regarding projects connected to India. More broadly, Tata had served on the board's Academic Affairs, Student Life, and Development Committees. In 2013 he was named Cornell Entrepreneur of the Year.
He was a director on the boards of
Alcoa
Alcoa Corporation (an acronym for "Aluminum Company of America") is an American industrial corporation. It is the world's eighth-largest producer of aluminum. Alcoa conducts operations in 10 countries. Alcoa is a major producer of primary alu ...
Inc.,
Mondelez International
Mondelēz International, Inc. ( ) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational confectionery, food industry, food, Holding company, holding, drink industry, beverage and snack food company based in Chicago. Mondelez has an annual rev ...
and Board of Governors of the
East–West Center
The East–West Center (EWC), or the Center for Cultural and Technical Interchange Between East and West, is an education and research organization established by the U.S. Congress in 1960 to strengthen relations and understanding among the peop ...
. He was also a member of the board of trustees of
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in ...
, Harvard Business School Board of Dean's Advisors, X Prize and Cornell University. He was a member on the board of International Advisory Council at
Bocconi University
Bocconi University or Università Bocconi (formally known in Italian language, Italian as ''Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi'' – Luigi Bocconi Commercial University) is a private university in Milan, Italy. The university is consistently ...
.
He was on the advisory board of Hakluyt & Co, an international consultancy company.
In 2013, he was appointed to the board of trustees of the
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP) is a nonpartisan international affairs think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C., with operations in Europe, South Asia, East Asia, and the Middle East, as well as the United States. Foun ...
.
In February 2015, Ratan took an advisory role at Kalari Capital, a venture capital firm founded by
Vani Kola
Vani Kola is an Indian venture capitalist. She is the founder and managing director of Kalaari Capital, an Indian early stage venture capital firm. She was listed as one of the most powerful women in Indian business by ''Fortune India'' in 2014 ...
.
In October 2016, Tata Sons removed Cyrus Mistry as its chairman, nearly 4 years after he took over the reins of the over $100 billion conglomerate, Ratan Tata made a comeback, taking over the company's interim boss for 4 months. On 12 January 2017,
Natarajan Chandrasekaran
Natarajan Chandrasekaran (born 2 June 1963) is an Indian businessman, and the chairman of Tata Sons and Tata Group. He was chief operating officer (COO) and executive director of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), where in 2009, he became chief ...
was named as the chairman of Tata Sons, a role he assumed in February 2017.
Personal life and death
Tata never married and had no children. In 2011, he stated, "I came close to getting married four times and each time I backed off in fear or for one reason or another." He was a devotee of
Sathya Sai Baba
Sathya Sai Baba (born Ratnakaram Sathyanarayana Raju; 23 November 192624 April 2011) was an Indian godman, guru and philanthropist. At the age of 14, he claimed to be the reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba and left his home saying "my devote ...
, having first met him in 2009, and got involved in multiple projects initiated by the Guru.
Tata was admitted to
Breach Candy Hospital
Breach Candy Hospital is a private hospital located in Mumbai, India. It is located in the Breach Candy area of South Mumbai. It is well known for the rich and famous patients that have been in the hospital.
History
It was established in ...
in critical condition and was under intensive care. He died there at 23:30
IST on 9 October 2024, at the age of 86 due to age-related issues. Following his death, the
Government of Maharashtra
The Government of Maharashtra is the executive branch of the Indian states of india, state of Maharashtra. The government is led by the List of chief ministers of Maharashtra, chief minister (currently Devendra Fadnavis since 5 December 2024) ...
and the
Government of Jharkhand
The Government of Jharkhand also known as the State Government of Jharkhand, or locally as State Government, is the supreme governing authority of the Indian state of Jharkhand and its Districts of Jharkhand, 24 districts. It consists of an exec ...
announced a day of mourning.
On 10 October, Tata was given a
state funeral
A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rules of protocol, held to honour people of national significance. State funerals usually include much pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and distinctive elements o ...
.
His last rites were conducted at the parsi crematorium at
Worli
Worli (ISO 15919, ISO: ''Varaḷī'', Help:IPA/Marathi, �əɾ(ə)ɭiː is a locality in central Mumbai in Maharashtra, India. It is one of the four peninsulas of Mumbai with the others being Colaba, Bandra and Malabar Hill. The sea connect ...
. He was accorded with military and 21-gun salute during his final rites.
The
Mumbai Police
The Greater Mumbai Police (Marathi language, Marathi: बृहन्मुंबई पोलीस, IAST: ''Brihanmumbaī Pulīs'', formerly ''Bombay City Police'') is the Police, police department of the city of Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is a cit ...
delivered a ceremonial guard of honour and his body was wrapped in the Indian flag. Even after death, Tata donated ₹10,000cr in his will which includes his
mentee Shantanu Naidu.
Ratan Tata's Will
Ratan Tata's will made public after his death, outlines the distribution of his ₹10,000 crore estate among family, friends, staff, and charitable organisations.
Key aspects of the will:
* Ratan Tata Endowment Foundation (RTEF): A significant portion of Tata's wealth around Rs 3,800 crore worth of shares, including in
Tata Group
The Tata Group () is an Indian multinational conglomerate group of companies headquartered in Mumbai. Established in 1868, it is India's largest business conglomerate, with products and services in over 160 countries, and operations in 100 c ...
companies like
Tata Motors
Tata Motors Limited is an Indian Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive company, headquartered in Mumbai and part of the Tata Group. The company produces passenger cars, cars, trucks, vans, and busses, buses.
T ...
and
Tata Sons
Tata Sons Pvt. Ltd. is the holding company of the Tata Group, headquartered in Mumbai. It owns the bulk of shareholding in the Tata group of companies including their land holdings across India, tea estates and steel plants, and derives its reve ...
, will be transferred to the RTEF, a charitable trust established in 2022 and the Ratan Tata Endowment Trust for philanthropic purposes.
* Family: The will designates assets to Tata's family members, including his brother Jimmy Tata and half-sisters Shireen and Deanna Jejeebhoy. His half sisters are also the will's executors.
*
Mohini Mohan Dutta: Mohini Mohan Dutta, a Jamshedpur-based entrepreneur and former Tata Group employee, is entitled to one-third of the residual estate, including bank deposits exceeding ₹350 crore and proceeds from selling personal items.
*
Shantanu Naidu: Tata's mentee and executive assistant, Shantanu Naidu, is named in the will. Tata also relinquished his stake in Naidu’s companionship venture, Goodfellows, and waived his education loan of Rs 1 crore loan extended for his
MBA
A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a professional degree focused on business administration. The core courses in an MBA program cover various areas of business administration; elective courses may allow further study in a particular a ...
studies at
Cornell University
Cornell University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university based in Ithaca, New York, United States. The university was co-founded by American philanthropist Ezra Cornell and historian and educator Andrew Dickson W ...
.
* Staff: Provisions are included for long-serving household staff. Tata bequeathed nearly Rs 3.5 crore to his household staff and office employees. He waived off personal loans given to his staff and even a neighbour. Additionally, Rs 1 lakh was allocated to part-time helpers and car cleaners.Several staff members received individual bequests, including: Rajan Shaw (Cook) – Just over Rs 1 crore, including a loan waiver of Rs 51 lakh, Subbaiah Konar (Butler) – Rs 66 lakh, including a loan waiver of Rs 36 lakh, Delnaz Gilder (Secretary) – Rs 10 lakh, Raju Leon (Driver) – Rs 1.5 lakh along with a Rs 18-lakh loan waiver, Hoshi D Malesara (Tata Trusts Consultant) – Rs 5 lakh, Devendar Katamollu (Alibaug Bungalow Caretaker) – Rs 2 lakh, Deepti Divakaran (Personal Assistant) – Rs 1.5 lakh, Gopal Singh (Peon) – Rs 50,000, Pandurang Gurav (Peon) – Rs 50,000, Sarfaraz Deshmukh (Helper) – Rs 2-lakh loan waiver.
* Pets: Tata's will ensures that his
German Shepherd
The German Shepherd, also known in Britain as an Alsatian, is a German Dog breed, breed of working dog of medium to large size. The breed was developed by Max von Stephanitz using various Old German herding dogs, traditional German herding dog ...
- Tito, will be cared for and his will allocated Rs 12 lakh for the dog’s care.
* Assets: Tata’s estate comprises assets including a 2,000-square-foot beach bungalow in
Alibaug
Alibag, also known as Alibaug (Pronunciation: �libaːɡ, is a coastal city and a municipal council in Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. It is the headquarters of the Raigad district and is south of the city of Mumbai. Alibag is part of the ...
, a two-story residence in
Mumbai
Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...
, and fixed deposits exceeding ₹350 crore.
* Luxury cars: Tata's collection of 20 to 30 luxury vehicles may be acquired by the Tata Group for display in a museum or for auctioning.
* Clothes: Tata also instructed that all his clothing be donated to NGOs for distribution to the underprivileged. Known for his refined taste in fashion, Tata’s wardrobe included brands like Daks, Polo,
Brooks Brothers
Brooks Brothers Inc. is an American clothing brand founded in 1818 which is the oldest apparel brand in continuous operation in the United States. Originally a family business, it is currently owned as a joint venture between Authentic Brands G ...
,
Brioni suits, and
Hermes ties.
* Overseas: His
Seychelles
Seychelles (, ; ), officially the Republic of Seychelles (; Seychellois Creole: ), is an island country and archipelagic state consisting of 155 islands (as per the Constitution) in the Indian Ocean. Its capital and largest city, Victoria, ...
land worth Rs 85 lakh was bequeathed to RNT Associates, a
Singapore
Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...
-registered fund, whose shareholders include former
Tata Trusts
Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT) was founded in 1919 with a sum of Indian currency 8 million. It was under the Ownership of Ratan Tata until his death. Noel Tata was appointed as the Chairman of the Tata Trusts on 11 October 2024, post the demise o ...
managing trustee R Venkatraman and former
Tata Technologies
Tata Technologies Limited is an Indian multinational technology company engaged in product engineering, that provides services to automotive and aerospace original equipment manufacturers as well as industrial machinery companies. It is a sub ...
CEO Patrick McGoldrick.
Honours and awards
Ratan Tata received the
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan (IAST: ''Padma Bhūṣaṇa'', lit. 'Lotus Decoration') is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 Januar ...
in 2000 and
Padma Vibhushan
The Padma Vibhushan ( , lit. "Lotus Grandeur") is the second-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "exceptional and distinguished service". All persons w ...
in 2008, the third and second highest civilian honours awarded by the Government of India.
Tata also received various state civilian honours such as '
Maharashtra Bhushan
The Maharashtra Bhushan is a highest civilian award presented annually by the Government of Maharashtra, Government of Maharashtra State in India.
When the Shiv Sena (1966–2022), Shivsena- BJP alliance came to power in 1995, it proposed to inst ...
' in 2006 for his work in the public administration in
Maharashtra
Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...
and '
Assam Baibhav
Assam Baibhav is the highest civilian award of the state of Assam, India. On 2 December 2021, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma officially declared the award on the occasion of "Asom Diwas" (Assam Day). The award carries a cash prize of and the ...
' in 2021 for his contribution towards furthering cancer care in
Assam
Assam (, , ) is a state in Northeast India, northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra Valley, Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . It is the second largest state in Northeast India, nor ...
.
Other awards include:
In popular culture
''Mega Icons'' (2018–2020), an Indian
documentary television series
Television documentaries are televised media productions that screen documentaries.
Television documentaries exist either as a television documentary series or as a television documentary film.
* Television documentary series, sometimes called d ...
on
National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly ''The National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as ''Nat Geo'') is an American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. The magazine was founded in 1888 as a scholarly journal, nine ...
about prominent Indian personalities, dedicated an episode to Ratan Tata's contributions.
See also
*
Jamsetji Tata
Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata (3 March 1839 – 19 May 1904) was an Indian industrialist and philanthropist who founded the Tata Group, India's largest conglomerate. He established the city of Jamshedpur.
Born into a Zoroastrian Parsi family in ...
*
List of entities associated with Tata Group
The Tata Group is a multinational conglomerate based in India, with many subsidiaries and joint venture companies. Tata Sons is the holding company of the Tata Group, and holds the bulk of shareholding in these companies. Tata Sons is the owner ...
*
List of philanthropists
References
Footnotes
Citations
Bibliography
*
External links
*
*
Ratan Naval Tata's chairman profile at Tata GroupProfileat ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
''
Creating Emerging Markets Interviewat the
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School (HBS) is the graduate school, graduate business school of Harvard University, a Private university, private Ivy League research university. Located in Allston, Massachusetts, HBS owns Harvard Business Publishing, which p ...
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tata, Ratan
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