In an old interview from 2018, a journalist asked the industry tycoon Ratan Tata how would he like to be remembered. Tata replied, "As a person who made a difference. Not anything more, not anything less."
In another interview, when he was asked how he avoided corruption, Tata told NDTV, "It has to be self-regulating. You will never understand...I want to go to bed at night feeling that I have not done it (corruption)."
Tata, the chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, one of the biggest conglomerates in India, passed away on Wednesday. The Tata Group also issued an official statement, confirming the loss of their "uncommon leader". Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran called Ratan Tata his mentor, guide, and friend, who inspired by example.
The mortal remains of the Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons and recipient of India's second highest civilian honour, Padma Vibhushan, Ratan Tata, reached the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) wrapped in the tricolour in south Mumbai. The mortal remains will be kept there for public viewing till 4 pm and the last rites will be performed in the Worli area of Mumbai later in the day. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will attend the last rites on behalf of the Centre.
Prayers of all faiths are being performed where his mortal remains are kept.
Tata received the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian honour in India in 2018 and the third-highest civilian honour Padma Bhushan in 2000. He worked on the shop floor of Tata Steel and later succeeded J R D Tata as chairman of Tata Sons in 1991. Under his tenure, the Tata Group acquired Tetley, Jaguar Land Rover, and Corus, in an attempt to turn Tata from a largely India-centric group into a global business.