India’s Ratan Tata, the businessman who inherited one of the country’s oldest conglomerates and transformed it through a string of eye-catching deals into a global empire, has died. He was 86. Tata Group Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran announced his death in a statement, calling Tata “a truly uncommon leader whose immeasurable contributions have shaped not only the Tata Group but also the very fabric of our nation.”
Born into a Parsi family in 1937, Tata spent his formative years studying architecture and structural engineering at Cornell University before returning to India in 1962 to join the company his great-grandfather founded nearly a century earlier. He was a driving force behind the firm’s move to embrace global markets and modernize its operations, ushering in a new era of growth for the Tata Group and India.
After he became the head of Tata Steel in 1991, he went on a buying spree, purchasing British tea firm Tetley and Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus for $13 billion. The acquisitions brought the Tata Group to a worldwide audience. Still, they were challenging: The company faced challenges as it sought to integrate its various businesses and make them more efficient and competitive.
Tata’s love for the Indian people was evident in his philanthropic efforts, which included building hospitals and schools and improving water supply and sanitation. He also made significant investments in several Indian startups and advocated for ethical business practices, urging that companies prioritize social impact over profit.
He was loved in a nation with abject poverty and an ingrained suspicion of the rich. His legacy reminds us that success isn’t defined by wealth alone, and he will be remembered as a true national icon.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among those who offered tributes to Tata, describing him as “a visionary business leader and a compassionate soul.” The government declared a day of mourning for the magnate, who will be cremated in Mumbai on Thursday. His body will be kept at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in south Mumbai’s Nariman Point from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to allow the public to pay their respects. His last post on social media was an October 7 message thanking well-wishers and addressing rumors about his health. He was in good spirits, he said, and undergoing routine medical checks for age-related conditions.
