(L) Jairam Ramesh as a student, (R) Young Ratan Tata

Ratan Tata, the esteemed industrialist and former chairman of Tata Sons, died on Wednesday at the age of 86 in Mumbai’ Breach Candy Hospital. His death was confirmed after reports earlier in the day indicated he was critically ill and undergoing treatment at a Mumbai hospital. Tata Sons, the conglomerate he led to global prominence, expressed deep sorrow in a statement, highlighting his unparalleled contributions to the company and the nation. “It is with a profound sense of loss that we bid farewell to Mr. Ratan Naval Tata, a truly uncommon leader whose immeasurable contributions have shaped not only the Tata Group but also the very fabric of our nation,” read the company’s statement. The message captured the grief shared by the Tata family and employees worldwide.

Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, paid tribute to Ratan Tata, recalling their long-standing relationship. Ramesh wrote: “For four decades, Ratan Tata was the gentle colossus of India’s corporate world who made the Tata conglomerate ready for a post-1991 India. He had a stellar global reputation and was much more than a business leader; he was a philanthropist in the finest traditions set by JN Tata.”

Ramesh shared a personal anecdote, noting that Tata was amused to learn that Ramesh’s study abroad in the mid-1970s had been partially funded by the JN Tata Loan Scholarship. “He never let me forget that,” Ramesh fondly recalled, describing Tata as a soft-spoken, self-effacing man with a strong sense of conviction and a good sense of humour.

“He had a stellar global reputation and was actually more than a business leader. He was a philanthropist in the finest traditions set by the great JN Tata himself at the turn of the century, and carried forward magnificently by his successors. I first got to know Ratan Tata well in September 1985, when I was in the Ministry of Industry and he had come with a team to present a 20-year strategic plan for the Tata Group which would be supported by the Government of India. This was one of Rajiv Gandhi’s new ideas for industrial policy,” he wrote.

“He will forever remain a very respected and celebrated name in India’s economic history, especially for the values he exemplified and championed,” said the Congress leader.

Born in Mumbai on December 28, 1937, Tata became synonymous with visionary leadership and philanthropy. He joined the family business in 1962 and became Chairman of Tata Sons in 1991. Under his leadership, the Tata Group acquired major international brands such as Jaguar Land Rover and Tetley Tea, expanding its global footprint. Tata was also known for modernising the group’s operations while upholding its core principles of ethics and integrity.