Who was Ratan Tata? Tributes paid to Indian tycoon after his death aged 86

Ratan Tata, the erstwhile Tata Group president who enactment the Indian conglomerate connected the planetary signifier with respective high-profile acquisitions, has died aged 86.

Mr Tata — who ran Tata Group for much than 20 years arsenic its president — was admitted to the Breach Candy Hospital successful southbound Mumbai connected Monday.

"It is with a profound consciousness of nonaccomplishment that we bid farewell to Mr Ratan Naval Tata, a genuinely uncommon person whose immeasurable contributions person shaped not lone the Tata Group but besides the precise cloth of our nation," the institution said precocious connected Wednesday pursuing Mr Tata’s decease from age-related wellness conditions.

Mr Tata "was a visionary concern leader, a compassionate psyche and an bonzer quality being," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said connected societal media level X, formerly Twitter.

"He provided unchangeable enactment to 1 of India's oldest and astir prestigious concern houses. At the aforesaid time, his publication went acold beyond boardrooms," Mr Modi said.

"Extremely pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family, friends and admirers successful this bittersweet hour."

Tata Sons president Natarajan Chandrasekaran confirmed Mr Tata's death and described him arsenic his "friend, mentor, and guide". Meanwhile, industrialist Harsh Goenka called Mr Tata a "titan".

In 2000, Mr Tata received the Padma Bhushan, 1 of India's astir distinguished civilian awards.

In 2018, helium was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, for his exceptional contributions to commercialized and industry.

He was known for his quiescent demeanour, comparatively humble lifestyle, and philanthropic work.

Tata Group is simply a immense conglomerate comprising astir 100 companies, including India’s largest carmaker, its largest backstage alloy producer, and a starring planetary outsourcing firm. The radical employs much than 900,000 radical worldwide and was founded successful 1868 by Jamsetji Tata, wide regarded arsenic the "father of Indian Industry”. He was Mr Tata’s paternal grandfather.

In 2000, Tata Group acquired British beverage institution Tetley for $432 cardinal (£330m), followed by its acquisition of Corus (an Anglo-Dutch steelmaker) successful 2007 for $13 cardinal (£9.9bn) — astatine the time, the largest overseas acquisition by an Indian company.

In 2008, Tata Motors bought British luxury car brands Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford Motor Co for $2.3bn (£1.8bn).

Tata pioneered commercialized aviation successful India by launching an hose successful 1932. This aboriginal became Air India erstwhile the authorities nationalised it. In 2021, Tata Group regained ownership of Air India aft purchasing the state-owned airline. It besides launched Vistara, a full-service bearer successful concern with Singapore Airlines, which aboriginal merged with Air India.

Some of Tata Group’s large companies see Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Tata Power, and the planetary IT services person Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

Mr Tata’s notable projects astatine Tata Motors included the Indica — India’s archetypal indigenously designed and built car — and the Nano, marketed arsenic the world’s cheapest car. Although the Indica was a commercialized success, the Nano, priced astatine conscionable 100,000 rupees (£911), faced information issues and selling challenges, starring to its discontinuation a decennary aft its launch.

After stepping down from progressive enactment of Tata Group, Mr Tata became a salient capitalist successful Indian startups, backing companies including Paytm (digital payments), Ola Electric (a portion of ride-hailing elephantine Ola), and Urban Company (home and quality services).

A licensed aviator who would occasionally alert the institution plane, Mr Tata ne'er joined oregon had children of his own.

However, helium astir tied the knot connected respective occasions.

“I came earnestly adjacent to getting joined 4 times and each clip I backed disconnected successful fearfulness oregon for 1 crushed oregon another,” the billionaire erstwhile said. “Each juncture was different, but successful hindsight erstwhile I look astatine the radical involved; it wasn’t a atrocious happening what I did. I deliberation it whitethorn person been much analyzable had the matrimony taken place.”

Tata Sons is the holding institution of the Tata Group and is the main concern institution for the Tata family’s interests. It owns a important information of the operating companies wrong the group.

Tata Sons is chiefly owned by Tata Trusts, which holds astir 66 per cent of its equity. The large Tata Trusts see Sir Dorabji Tata Trust; J.R.D. Tata Trust; Tata Education Trust; and Tata Relief Trust.

In 2012, Mr Tata stepped down arsenic president of Tata Sons aft 50 years, passing the baton to Mr Chandrasekaran.

As Mr Tata ne'er had a woman oregon children, there’s overmuch speculation astir what volition hap to his luck and who mightiness beryllium successful the succession line.

Many Tata household members clasp important positions successful the institution and could beryllium seen arsenic his successors.

Noel Tata, Mr Tata’s half-brother, has received a batch of attraction and immoderate reports suggest helium could beryllium the household subordinate who could proceed the household legacy.

His children were precocious appointed to the boards of assorted philanthropic trusts and are already carving names for themselves successful the Tata dynasty.