Ratan Tata Birth Anniversary: One of the most successful businessmen in India, who took the helm of the Tata group almost 21 years back, is celebrating 83rd birthday today. Chosen as a successor of the Group by his uncle JRD Tata, Ratan Tata managed to transform the group through bold decisions including acquisitions in the global markets. Also Read: India To Become Part Of Five Biggest Economies In The World By 2025


Here are interesting facts about the veteran whose contribution also led to the India’s growth  story

Born in the industrialist family, on December 28, 1937 in Surat Ratan Tata is the great-grandson of Jamsetji Tata, the founder of Tata Group.

His parents are Naval Tata and Sonoo. Ratan Tata studied in the Campion School, Mumbai, till Class 8.

Later he enrolled at the Cathedral and John Connon School, Mumbai and also studied in the Bishop Cotton School in Shimla. In 1955, he graduated from the Riverdale Country School in New York City and received a degree in architecture with structural engineering from Cornell University, USA.

The prolific businessman also studied at the Harvard Business School and completed an Advanced Management Program in 1975.

Ratan Tata joined Tata Steel division in 1962 where he also worked on the shop floor of Tata Steel, and was the apparent successor to JRD Tata after he stepped down in 1991 as chairman of Tata Sons.

 Ratan Tata (PIC/Instagram account)

During his time, Tata Tea to acquired Tetley, Tata Motors acquired Jaguar Land Rover, and Tata Steel acquired Corus, in an attempt to turn Tata from a largely India-centrist group into a global business.

In 1991, JRD Tata stepped down as chairman of Tata Sons, naming him his successor. He expanded the organisation and was instrumental in conceptualisation and building of Tata Nano and Tata Indica cars.

On his 75th birthday (December 28, 2012), the businessman decided to resign from the post of chairman of the Tata Group. Even after retirement, Ratan Tata is an active businessman and keep an regularly invests in start-ups.

Ratan Tata’s father Naval Tata was the adopted by Ratanji Tata, the younger son of Jamsetji Tata, founder of the Tata Group of companies. When Ratan Tata was 10, his parents separated followed which he was raised by his grandmother, Navajbai Tata.

He has been honoured with two highest civilian awards of India, the Padma Vibhushan (2008) and Padma Bhushan (2000).

It is reported that more than 65% of Ratan Tata's shares is invested in charitable trusts. A philanthropist by heart, the leader has done notable work for every section of the society. Tata Education and Development Trust, a philanthropic affiliate of the Tata Group, endowed a $28 million Tata Scholarship Fund in order to allow Cornell University to provide financial aid to undergraduate students from India.

The industrialist has joined Instagram platform last year, and presently has over 3 million followers  while on Twitter, the Chairman Emeritus is followed by 9.2 million people from across the globe.