10 Fascinating Facts About Ratan Tata: His Lasting Legacy

The Chairman emeritus of Tata Sons passed away late on October 9 at the age of 86. The renowned businessman and former Tata Sons chairman leaves a lasting legacy that will be felt by people for many years to come.

Known for his business savvy, modesty, and contribution to the globalization of India, he served as a mentor and ray of hope for a number of people, including younger innovators like Bhavish Aggarwal of Ola and industry titans like NR Narayana Murthy. Although he is recognized for having built Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) into a multinational IT giant, he was also instrumental in developing India's nascent startup scene, which has quickly become the third largest in the world. Tracxn, a private markets data provider and another Ratan Tata-backed business, estimates that Ratan Tata has invested in about 45 companies overall. The creator of the tea startup Teabox, Kaushal Dugar, stated that if Ratan Tata had not made an investment in the company back in 2016, it would not be where it is now.

Still, it was not his favorite recollection. Dugar also remembers their initial encounter with Ratan Tata. Additionally, Ratan Tata has profited handsomely from his wagers. He apparently received a 28X return on his money from an early wager on Lenskart, but Upstox yielded a return of nearly 23,000 %. In a similar vein, he received profits of 10X and 450 percent from newer firms that went public this year: Ola Electric and Firstcry.

Also read Ratan Tata : An Inspirational Success Story

10 Interesting facts to know about the legend Ratan Tata:

1. Tata Group Leadership: From 1991 to 2012, he was the chairman of Tata Sons, a position he held for more than 20 years. In 2016, he made a brief return as interim chairman.
2. Global Expansion: The Tata Group had substantial growth under Tata's direction, operating in more than 100 countries and generating $165 billion in sales during the fiscal year that ended in March 2024.
3. Notable purchases: He oversaw the 2007 and 2008 purchases of the British steelmaker Corus and the luxury vehicle manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover.
4. Educational Background: Tata initially pursued mechanical engineering against his father's desires, but he eventually graduated from Cornell University's architectural program in 1962.
5. Philanthropy: The Tata Trusts, which own around 66% of Tata Sons, are significantly lacking in leadership following the passing of Ratan Tata, who was well-known for his charitable endeavors.
6. Childhood Challenge: Ratan Naval Tata was raised by his grandmother when his parents, Naval and Sooni Tata, divorced when he was ten years old. He was born in Bombay on December 28, 1937. At the age of 13, the creator of the Tata Group, Jamsetji Tata's daughter-in-law, adopted his father into the main Tata family.
7. Trailblazing Innovations: The group unveiled Tata Neu, India's first superapp, under Ratan Tata. The business expanded to become a vast, global conglomerate that produced everything from sports automobiles to software.
8. Significant Crises: The 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, which targeted the Taj Mahal Palace hotel—the group's flagship property—presented a significant problem for the Tata Group.
9. Final Business Battle: In 2021, he successfully repurchased Air India, returning it to the Tata Group over ninety years after it had been nationalized. This was one of his greatest accomplishments.
10. Tata Trusts Her Future: Tata was childless and never married. His passing creates a void at the head of the influential Tata Trusts, a conglomerate of charitable organizations. Approximately 66% of Tata Sons, which in turn owns all of the significant listed Tata companies, is owned by these charitable trusts.

To Summarize

Ratan Tata, the late Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, left a remarkable legacy of successful investments and pioneering leadership, achieving vast returns from companies like Lenskart and Upstox and shaping India's startup ecosystem. Known for his acquisitions, philanthropy, and resilience, he expanded Tata Group globally, managed crises, and contributed to India's economic growth. His passing leaves a significant void in both Tata Trusts and India's business landscape.