Remembering Ratan Tata, trailblazer who globalised Tata Group

Ratan Tata took over as the chairman of Tata Sons in 1991. Under his stewardship, the company expanded its reach and diversified its interests, with revenues soaring to nearly USD 85 billion by 2011.

In Short

• Ratan Tata led Tata Group's transformation into a global entity
• He was instrumental in acquiring Jaguar Land Rover, Corus Steel
• He was honoured with Padma Vibhushan for his contributions

Ratan Naval Tata, the visionary former chairman of Tata Sons, died on October 9 at the age of 86. A giant of Indian industry, Ratan Tata's leadership transformed the salt-to-steel Tata Group conglomerate into a global powerhouse.

Born on December 28, 1937, Ratan Tata was the great-grandson of Jamsetji Tata, the founder of the Tata Group. He graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University in 1962 and began his career in the family business shortly after.

He took over as chairman in 1991 during a challenging period for the group, which then had revenues of just USD 5.8 billion. Under his stewardship, the company expanded its reach and diversified its interests, with revenues soaring to over USD 100 billion by 2011-12.

Throughout his tenure, Ratan Tata was instrumental in acquiring international companies, including Jaguar Land Rover and Corus Steel, and established Tata Group as a prominent player in sectors such as steel, automobiles, telecommunications, and information technology.

He also supported economic liberalisation in the 1980s.

In an interview with the India Today Group in 1985, Ratan Tata said that he felt that the newer policies would make for more competition and healthier industrialisation.

"I feel that the private sector must support and encourage this process. I'm saying the leaders of industry should stand up for this," he said.

Piramal Group's Ajay Piramal credited Ratan Tata's "inimitable quiet leadership style" as the driving force behind Tata Group achieving its iconic status.

"With Ratan driving various pathbreaking and innovative initiatives, the Group’s revenues increased by over 40 times during his tenure," Ajay Piramal wrote in 2021.

Ratan Tata played a crucial role in globalising Tata Group, with nearly two-thirds of its revenues now coming from overseas markets.

Ratan Tata was also instrumental in launching the world's cheapest car, the Nano.

The idea behind the compact vehicle was to bring motoring to India's masses, Ratan Tata had announced before its roll-out.

"I had the Indian family in mind when I designed this car, where four people travel together by motorbike. I thought they could travel more safely by car," Ratan Tata had said, as per a report by the Guardian.

The Tata Sons conferred the honorary title of Chairman Emeritus on Ratan Tata after he retired in December 2012.

Apart from business, Ratan Tata was also commitment to philanthropy, which was evident in his leadership of the Tata Trusts, which focus on community development and social initiatives in India. He was dedicated to improving education, healthcare, and rural development, leaving a lasting impact on countless lives.

Honored with numerous accolades, including the nation’s second-highest civilian award Padma Vibhushan and the Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Ratan Tata was widely respected for his business acumen and unwavering integrity.