Ratan Tata, the former chairman of Tata Group who transformed the company into India’s largest and most influential conglomerate, passed away at the age of 86. He breathed his last at Breach Candy Hospital in South Mumbai at 11:30pm on Wednesday, after being in intensive care since Monday.
A recipient of the Padma Vibhushan, Tata was known for his visionary leadership and a series of high-profile deals that reshaped the group. During his more than two-decade tenure as chairman, he led the group through a period of remarkable growth, acquiring major international companies such as British steelmaker Corus and luxury car brands Jaguar Land Rover.
Prime Minister Modi paid tribute to Tata in a post on X, calling him “a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul, and an extraordinary human being.” Modi highlighted Tata’s contributions beyond the business world, praising his “humility, kindness, and unwavering commitment to making our society better.”
Mumbai police were the first to report Tata’s death, which was later confirmed by Tata Group chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran, who described Tata as “a truly uncommon leader whose immeasurable contributions have shaped not only the Tata Group but also the very fabric of our nation.”
Educated at Cornell University, Ratan Tata began his career working on the shop floor of Tata Group companies after returning to India in 1962. He gained experience in several of the group’s firms before becoming director in charge of National Radio and Electronics Co. in 1971. He went on to become chairman of Tata Industries in 1981 and took over leadership of Tata Group from his uncle, JRD Tata, in 1991.
Under Tata’s leadership, the conglomerate expanded significantly, branching out into diverse sectors such as steel, power, software, and aviation. It introduced India’s first super app, forayed into chip manufacturing, and is planning to open an iPhone assembly plant. The group’s revenues reached $165 billion in the last fiscal year.
