Ratan Tata, the iconic Indian industrialist and philanthropist, passed away yesterday at a Mumbai hospital at the age of 86. As the chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, the holding company of the multinational conglomerate Tata Group, Tata left an indelible mark on India’s business landscape .
Under his leadership from 1991 to 2012, the Tata Group expanded its global reach, with revenue exceeding $100 billion upon his retirement. What’s remarkable is that Tata’s focus on the public good earned him widespread recognition. After retiring as chairman, Tata went on to chair the Tata Trusts, India’s largest private-sector philanthropic organization, and his own venture capital firm .
Tata’s connection to Cornell University, where he studied architecture, was deep-rooted. He was the university’s largest international donor, supporting scholarships, research to reduce rural poverty and malnutrition in India, and technology innovation. In 2008, the Tata Trusts gifted $50 million to create the Tata-Cornell Institute for Agriculture and Nutrition, a long-term research initiative. This was followed by another $50 million investment from Tata Consultancy Services in 2017 to build the Tata Innovation Center on Cornell Tech’s Roosevelt Island campus in New York City .
Tata’s architectural training at Cornell influenced his business acumen, teaching him to approach problems creatively and from multiple perspectives. His innovative thinking was evident in Tata Motors’ launch of the Tata Nano, the world’s most affordable production car, in 2008.
Throughout his life, Tata received numerous accolades, including two of India’s top civilian honors and a lifetime achievement award in philanthropy from the Rockefeller Foundation. His legacy extends far beyond his business accomplishments, inspiring generations with his commitment to humanity and philanthropy .