Ratan Tata biography shows his entire journey as an Indian industrialist, investor, philanthropist, and a former chairman of Tata Sons. He was also chairman of Tata Group, from 1991 to 2012. He is the recipient of two of the highest civilian awards of India – Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan.
Leaders are not merely born; they are made through a combination of circumstances, experiences, and tireless determination. One such exceptional leader who has left an indelible mark on the world is Ratan Tata. Born on December 28, 1937, in Mumbai, India, Ratan Tata has emerged as a titan of the business world, known for his visionary leadership and commitment to innovation. Ratan Tata’s Net Worth amounts to INR 3800 Crores.
I don’t believe in taking right decision, I take decisions and make them right.
– Ratan Tata
Basic Information
| Name | Ratan Tata |
| Category | Industrialist |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Alma Mater | Cornell University |
| Occupation | Former chairman of Tata Group |
| Net Worth | $1 Billion As Of Jan 15, 2017 |
| Birthday | 28 December 1937 |
| Birth Place | Surat |
| Age | 80 |
| Spouse | No |
| Father | Naval Tata |
| Mother | Sonoo Tata |
Early Life and Education
- Ratan Tata’s journey to leadership began in the bustling city of Mumbai, where he was born into the illustrious Tata family.
- His family background played a significant role in shaping his values and ambitions. The Tata family had a rich legacy of philanthropy and entrepreneurship, which instilled in young Ratan a sense of responsibility towards society and a deep commitment to business excellence.
- He attended Campaign School in Mumbai and pursued his Diploma from Riverdale Country School in New York City in 1955.
- Later, he attained a structural engineering and architecture degree from Cornell University in 1959.
- In 1975, he pursued a Management program at Harvard Business School.
Career Trajectory
- Upon completing his education, Ratan Tata joined the Tata Group, the conglomerate founded by his great-grandfather, Jamsetji Tata.
- He began his career in 1961 as an apprentice at Tata Steel, and over the years, he ascended through the ranks with diligence and foresight. Soon, he was appointed the Director-in-Charge of the National Radio & Electronics Company (NELCO), a subsidiary of the Tata Group.
- In 1991, Ratan Tata took the helm of the Tata Group as its Chairman. Under his visionary leadership, the group expanded its horizons globally, diversifying into various sectors such as information technology, automotive, steel, and telecommunications.
Awards and Honors
| Name(Year) | Awarding organisation |
| Commander of the Legion of Honour(2016) | Government of France |
| Sayaji Ratna Award(2015) | Baroda Management Association, Honoris Causa, HEC Paris |
| Honorary Doctor of Automotive Engineering(2015) | Clemson University |
| Honorary Doctor of Laws(2014) | York University, Canada |
| Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (GBE)(2014) | United Kingdom Government |
| Sayaji Ratna Award(2014) | Baroda Management Association, Honoris Causa, HEC Paris |
| Honorary Doctor of Business(2014) | Singapore Management University |
| Honorary Doctorate(2013) | University of Amsterdam |
| Honorary Doctor of Business Practice | Carnegie Mellon University |
| Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year – Lifetime Achievement(2013) | Ernst & Young |
| Transformational Leader of the Decade(2013) | Indian Affairs India Leadership Conclave 2013 |
| Foreign Associate(2013) | National Academy of Engineering |
| Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun(2012) | Government of Japan |
| Padma Vibhushan(2008) | Republic of India |
| Padma Bhushan(2000) | Republic of India |
Philanthropy of Ratan Tata
| Focus Area | Key Initiatives & Impact |
|---|---|
| Education | JN Tata Endowment scholarships; $28 M to Cornell; $50 M to Harvard (Tata Hall); ₹950 M to IIT Bombay; Tata Center @ MIT |
| Healthcare & Research | Tata Medical Centre, Kolkata; Tata Memorial Hospital; neuroscience grant @ IISc; $270 M COVID‑19 relief |
| Rural & Community Development | Transforming Rural India, WaSH programs, women empowerment, livelihood projects |
| Disaster Relief & Welfare | Support for 1984 Sikh pogrom survivors, 2008 Taj attack victims, swift COVID‑19 support |
| Environment & Innovation | Founded TIGS @ UCSD, MIT Design Center, backed TERI, cleantech startup support |
| Global Education & Grants | $50 M to Harvard; desalination research @ UNSW; grants via Sir Ratan Tata Trust |
Lifestyle
| Car | Ratan Tata has a collection of cars. He is currently having Tata Nexon, Ferrari California, Honda Civic, Mercedes-Benz 500 SL, Land Rover Freelander, Mercedes-Benz W124, Cadillac XLR, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Chrysler Sebring |
| Pet | He is an animal lover. He has two German Shephards. He loves dogs and even invested in a company named ‘Dogspot’. |
| Hobbies | He loves to experiment with new things. He even flew A-16 fighter Jet of Indian Air Force |
| Clothing | He is always dressed up and dapper in formal outfits. He prefers white shirts and bright hued Hermes ties with his dark navy or black suits |
| Food | Tangy and sweet masoor dal cooked with lots of garlic, mutton pulao dal and nut-rich baked custard |
Company Profile
| Name | Tata Group |
| Industry | Conglomerate |
| Founded in | 1868 |
| Headquarter | Mumbai |
| Key People | Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Ratan Tata, Saurabh Agarwal |
| Products & Services | Airlines, Automotive, Chemicals, Defense, FMCG, Electric utility, Finance, Home appliances, Healthcare, Hospitality, IT Services, Locomotives, Retail, Real estate, Steel, Telecommunications |
| Area Served | Worldwide |
| Revenue | US$100.4 billion |
| Subsidiaries | Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Power, Tata Chemicals (including Tata Swach), Tata Global Beverages, Tata Coffee, Tata Teleservices, Titan, Tata Communications, and The Indian Hotels Company Limited |
| Philanthropy |
|
| Website | www.tata.com |
Unknown Facts About Ratan Tata
- Jamsetji Tata, owner of Tata Group, is the great-grandfather of Ratan Tata.
- Ratan’s parents divorced in 1948 when he was just 10 years old.
- He rejected the offer at IBM to work at his own company, Tata. His first job was at Tata Organization. At Tata Steel, his first duty was to oversee the blast furnace and the limestone dump.
- Ratan Tata’s love story is a true tale with a heart-breaking twist. While working in Los Angeles, he fell in love with a girl. However, due to the 1962 Indo-China war, her parents were unwilling to send her to India.
- His invaluable contributions increased the company’s revenues by more than 40 times.
- He is a skilled pilot and became the first Indian to fly F-16 Falcon.
- During his career and leadership, some major mergers took place, such as Tetley’s merger with Tata Tea, Land Rover Jaguar’s merger with Tata Motors, and Corus’s merger with Tata Steel.
- Surprisingly, only a few know why Ratan Tata isn’t the richest in India. He is not ranked among the world’s billionaires or wealthiest people because his family and business devote more than 65% of their money to charity.
- Some start-ups backed by Ratan Tata are Ola Electric, Paytm, Snapdeal, CarDekho, Urban Company, CureFit, ClimaCell, and UrbanLadder.
Ratan Tata – Leading the Legacy of the Tata Group
Even after officially retiring in 2012, Ratan Tata’s influence on the Tata Group remains profound. He continues to serve as the Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, the group’s holding company. Under his guidance, the Tata Group has achieved remarkable milestones, including the successful launch of the Tata Nano, the world’s most affordable car.
One of his most notable achievements has been his focus on sustainable and ethical business practices. He has emphasized the importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental sustainability in business operations. His commitment to these principles has set a benchmark for corporate leadership worldwide.
Since the legend is running in his mid-80s, people must be worried thinking about who will lead the Tata Group after Ratan Tata. It is currently expected that Natarajan Chandrasekaran, now Chairman of Tata Sons, will look after the Tata Group after Ratan Tata.
October 9, 2024, will be remembered as an unfortunate day for India, as it lost its legendary leader, Sir Ratan Tata. He was admitted to the ICU at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital due to health issues, where he was later pronounced dead. The entire nation is mourning his loss. May his soul rest in peace.
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