Ratan Tata, who led the Tata Group for over 20 years as chairman, was reported to be in intensive care at a Mumbai hospital, as confirmed by sources familiar with his medical condition. After earning a degree in architecture from Cornell University, Tata returned to India in 1962 to join the Tata Group, which was founded by his great-grandfather almost a century earlier.
In the early years of his career, Ratan Tata gained experience at various Tata companies, including Tata Motors and Tata Steel, before making a name for himself by revitalizing the National Radio & Electronics Company. In 1991, he officially took over as chairman, succeeding his uncle JRD Tata. His leadership coincided with a critical period in India’s economic history, as the nation opened its markets to global competition and embarked on a path of high growth.
One of Ratan Tata’s first initiatives as chairman was restructuring the Tata Group’s leadership, implementing retirement ages, promoting young talent, and tightening control over group companies. In 1996, he founded Tata Teleservices, and in 2004, he led Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to a successful initial public offering, establishing it as a dominant force in the IT sector.
To fuel the Tata Group’s growth, Ratan Tata spearheaded several high-profile acquisitions. These included the purchase of British tea company Tetley for $432 million in 2000 and the acquisition of Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus for $13 billion in 2007, marking the largest foreign takeover by an Indian company at that time. In 2008, Tata Motors acquired the British luxury car brands Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford Motor Co. for $2.3 billion, further enhancing the group’s global presence.
Ratan also made a significant impact on the Indian automotive industry with the launch of the Indica, the first car designed and built in India, and the Nano, which was marketed as the world’s cheapest car. While the Indica achieved commercial success, the Nano faced setbacks due to safety concerns and mismanaged marketing, leading to its discontinuation a decade later.
In addition to his business achievements, Ratan Tata is a licensed pilot and was known to fly the company plane himself. He chose not to marry and has focused extensively on philanthropy. Nearly two-thirds of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, is owned by philanthropic trusts, reflecting his commitment to social causes.
Ratan Tata’s tenure as chairman was not without controversy. In 2016, the Tata Group’s board voted to remove Cyrus Mistry as chairman, resulting in a public dispute. While Tata Sons claimed Mistry had failed to turn around struggling businesses, Mistry accused Ratan Tata of interfering and creating an alternate power center within the group.
After stepping down from the Tata Group, Ratan Tata became a prominent investor in Indian startups, supporting ventures such as Paytm, Ola Electric, and Urban Company. His contributions to industry and trade earned him the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honor, in 2008.
