Ratan Tata: The Steel of Compassion

-By Ayushman Sinha & Gowri Menon

“If you want to walk fast, walk alone. But if you want to walk far, walk together”. 

- Ratan Tata

We just witnessed the passing away of Ratan Naval Tata, an icon of prudence as a leader and of an unflinching sense of moral instinct.  His legacy will certainly be carried across industries and the demise of an era marked by when business leaders wore, or are still putting on, the cloak of social welfare responsibilities as captains of industry. A man of such great talent, the tapestry of his life is an intricate embroidery unmatched in both business acumen and deeply rooted altruism.

A veteran industry leader with no massive controversy, known for his business acumen, vision, and strong work ethics, he turned his family business into an international empire and the most ubiquitous brand this country has seen. From salt to cars, you name it and there’s Tata. It also led to Harvard University having a business program named after him. He truly is someone for whom we can’t express our profound respect with the most appropriate of words for what he has done is truly remarkable. 

Born on December 28, 1937, to take the reins of a conglomerate of paramount repute, Ratan Tata was a scion of the high-born Tata family. What however distinguished him from being just another scion of corporate dynasties was his innate perspicacity and relentless pursuit of excellence. He headed the Tata Group with an iron fist transformed it into a global giant and always remained girded by the ethical and humanitarian values that his ancestors championed.

Appointed as the chairman of Tata Sons in 1991, Ratan Tata was the first name of a new chapter in the Indian enterprise history books.Where his predecessors had built a juggernaut at home, in his mind’s eye, he had a global conglomerate that would stride across the world; and under his stewardship, the Tata Group embarked on a journey of globalisation, or so it appeared to be. This is perhaps best epitomised by the high-stakes acquisition of British steel titan Corus in 2007 for an astronomical $13 billion. Not too long afterwards came the acquisition in 2008 of two of Britain's most iconic carmakers, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), when such mega-acquisitions were colossal for an Indian corporation. These risky tectonic shifts fully reflected Tata's unstinted faith in India's emergent industrial muscle and its capacity to rival supergiants around the world. As a businessman, he has supported young and budding businesses like Lenskart, Paytm and Upstox. 

And yet, these acquisitions that put Ratan Tata on the front page exhibits the humblest of characteristics of quiet dignity that shone through in his reluctance to bask in the limelight of his success.He again proved himself to be an enigmatic leader who ended all pomp and showed replacements with substance and the greater good.His tenure witnessed the Tata Group venturing into new sectors such as information technology, telecommunication, hospitality and the like- it left marks on the world map that would remain indelible.

Of course, Ratan Tata’s life was not built on corporate might alone. He was a man of singular, far-reaching vision, and it was to be the well-being of the society in which it flourishes that would be his own, ultimate testament to success. His philanthropy activities, undertaken with equal passion, only highlighted a desire to uplift reform and strive for justice. For decades, the Tata Trusts, holding a majority share in Tata Sons, have been the flag bearers of philanthropy in India. There, in the hands of Ratan Tata, Tata trusts became tools of deep social change. At the same time, Tata's benevolence came alive in outstanding health care and education initiatives and rural development and arts initiatives far bigger than the boardroom philanthropy that reached millions of Indians as well as people across the globe.Tata's charity was instant as well as gargantuan when national crises precipitated. From rehabilitating communities devastated by natural calamities to donating philanthropic funds to causes at the heart of the nation, including hospital and educational institute construction, Ratan Tata became the symbol of corporate responsibility. His reaction to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks was a spectacular example of leadership capability in that he managed to oversee the restoration of the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel which symbolises the Tata Group and embodies the indomitable spirit of the people of Mumbai. No wonder he was called an “emotional businessman” and maybe the last of his kind. 

The life that so profoundly shaped not just commerce but society itself, Ratan Tata was never a self-publicizer. His reticent almost ascetic personality hid a full mind full of vision and unflinching moral sense. A refusal to marry was often the stuff of idle speculation-reflected the life of service to his company,country and mankind in general.

The glittering curtain of Ratan Tata falls at the end, leaving messages of magnanimity, sagacity, and commitment to ethical business practices.  In a world where many leaders prioritise profit over people, Ratan Tata stands as a reminder that true success is measured by the positive impact one has on individuals and society. He was not only an industrialist but also a statesman whose ideas far outweigh the narrow parameters of profit or loss and inspired  generations of entrepreneurs and leaders.

India has lost a titan of a man, whose life itself is the quintessence of integrity, vision and empathy. Ratan Tata will be remembered not for the towering edifice of the industry he built but for the innumerable lives he transformed through his philanthropy. He will leave behind a huge vacuum in the corporate sphere and the social fabric of the nation, but his legacy lives to inspire and uplift generations who will come after him.