‘Retirement Isn't About Playing Golf': When Ratan Tata Opened Up About Life, Separation & 'Doing The Right Thing'

Ratan Tata wrote these lines on the Facebook page "Humans of Bombay" in 2020. The celebrated industrialist and philanthropist died at a Mumbai hospital on Wednesday at the age of 86.

Speaking of his retirement, Ratan Tata famously said in 2020, "I’m enjoying the separation from the company — I don’t look at newspapers and worry about the bad stuff anymore."

He went on to say that retirement isn't about playing golf or lying on a beach, but it is the urge to do more, even greater.

Ratan Tata wrote these lines on the Facebook page "Humans of Bombay" in 2020. The celebrated industrialist and philanthropist died at a Mumbai hospital on Wednesday at the age of 86.

In the Facebook post, Tata, the Chairman of Tata Sons, a salt-to-software conglomerate, spoke about his childhood, love life, retirement and things he held dear to his heart. 

“Ever since, my life has been for and about growing the company. When I was appointed Chairman, it was widely believed that it was my surname that got me the position, but my focus was on creating something that was bigger than us all and on giving back, which has been entwined in the TATA DNA since the very beginning," the Emeritus Chairman wrote about his journey with Tata Sons.

He led the Tata Group from March 1991 to December 2012 as Chairman of Tata Sons. During his tenure, Tata Group’s revenues grew manifold, totalling over $100 billion in 2011-12. 

However, Tata's ambitions were not restrained to business. He remains one of the most generous philanthropists in the country and has donated during natural calamities, the Covid-19 pandemic, terror attacks and for educational and cultural institutions.

Speaking of his experience in Jamshedpur, he wrote, "We realised that while our workers were thriving, the surrounding villages were still suffering. It became our goal to uplift their quality of life as well… things like these came naturally to us."

Speaking of his lifestyle, he said that his work became his lifestyle. "I was either always at Bombay House or travelling, I guess that’s why even though on the personal front I came close to marriage with 2-3 different partners, but I couldn’t go through with it because they would have to really change and adjust to my lifestyle and that didn’t sit right with me."

On retirement, he said that it isn't about playing golf or lying on a beach and reading while sipping a cocktail. 

"From affordable cancer treatment, to looking into making the lives in rural India easier — I’m looking forward to this chapter of making it happen at the Tata Trusts. I’m trying to enjoy myself to be honest — I’m spending time with friends — old and new, across all age groups, who I’m constantly learning from," Ratan Tata said. 

Speaking while he was 82 (in 2020), he said he was still learning. "I feel like the ‘right advice’ changes over a period of time — but the one thing that remains unchanged is the desire to do the right thing."