Gentle giant

THE visionary industrialist had a profound impact on India’s economy, but Ratan Naval Tata’s crowning glory was the respect he commanded across the spectrum in India and abroad. The outpouring of grief over his demise, at the age of 86, bears testimony to his popularity. The chairman of Tata Sons for more than two decades, he wrote his epitaph himself: ‘I hope people would say that I was able to lead the group with dignity and that I tried to do the right thing.’ The sense of purpose and quiet confidence he exhibited, or the entrepreneurial instincts he nurtured, were exceptional traits. What set him apart in the ever-growing club of business tycoons and endeared him to millions was the high standard of probity and conduct he swore by. He cultivated a reputation for straight-dealing. His humility, the innumerable philanthropic projects he steered, his passion for start-ups, as well as his love for animals, all added to the persona. He was a rarity, a shining beacon in an age of greed and ostentation.

Born in 1937, Ratan Tata’s life spanned a period of enormous change for India. In 1991, he took over from his uncle and mentor JRD Tata as head of one of India’s biggest conglomerates. This coincided with India’s economic opening to the world. As the group boldly ventured abroad, Ratan Tata emerged as a brand ambassador for India Inc, and later its elder statesman. His pet project, the ultra-cheap Nano, hit a political wall in West Bengal and then the car registered dismal sales. It was a harsh lesson about the limitations of a grand vision.

Ratan Tata never married. ‘If I had a family, I could not have spent as much of my time involved with the group,’ he said. His family is spread far and wide, mourning the loss.