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Ratan Naval Tata, born on December 28, 1937, is a prominent Indian industrialist and philanthropist known for his remarkable contributions to the business world and society at large. He held the position of chairman at Tata Group for an impressive 22 years, from 1990 to 2012, and also served as interim chairman from October 2016 to February 2017. Even today, he remains at the helm of the group’s charitable trusts. His dedication to public service was recognized in 2008 when he received the prestigious Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honour, following his Padma Bhushan award in 2000.
Ratan Tata’s journey is rooted in the rich legacy of the Tata family, as he is the son of Naval Tata, who was adopted by Ratanji Tata, the son of Jamsetji Tata, the Tata Group visionary founder. Ratan Tata’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Cornell University College. His career began in 1961 at Tata, where he started on the shop floor of Tata Steel, gaining invaluable experience. His exceptional leadership skills were evident when he succeeded J. R. D. Tata as chairman of Tata Sons upon J.R.D. Tata’s retirement in 1991.
During his tenure, Ratan Tata led the Tata Group on a transformative journey, overseeing the acquisition of global giants like Tetley, Jaguar Land Rover, and Corus. These strategic moves aimed to shift the Tata Group’s focus from being predominantly India-centric to becoming a global business force. Beyond his business acumen, Ratan Tata is celebrated for his philanthropic endeavours, with a remarkable 60-65% of his income dedicated to charitable causes, making him one of the world’s most significant philanthropists.
Ratan Tata: Birth, Age, Education, and Family
Ratan Tata, born on December 28, 1937, in Bombay, British India (now Mumbai), has a life story as remarkable as his achievements. The son of Naval Tata and Sooni Commissariat, his early years were marked by separation from his parents at the age of 10. He was formally adopted by his grandmother, Navajbai Tata, through the J. N. Petit Parsi Orphanage. Growing up alongside his half-brother Noel Tata, who is the son of Naval Tata and Simone Tata, Ratan Tata’s educational journey took him through several prestigious schools, including Campion School and Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai, Bishop Cotton School in Shimla, and even Riverdale Country School in New York City. His academic path led him to Cornell University and Harvard Business School, setting the foundation for his illustrious career.
Now at the age of 84, Ratan Tata’s life is a testament to resilience and determination that has left an indelible mark on the world of business and philanthropy.
Ratan Tata Wife
Ratan Tata, the renowned Indian industrialist and philanthropist, has always been a subject of curiosity when it comes to his personal life. In a candid revelation back in 2011, he disclosed that he had come close to getting married four times in his life, but each time, he decided to step back for various reasons, citing fear and other considerations. One of the most intriguing stories from his romantic past involves falling in love with a woman in Los Angeles during his time working there.
Unfortunately, he had to return to India due to a family emergency, and the girl’s parents didn’t permit her to accompany him. Remarkably, Ratan Tata remained steadfast in his commitment to family and chose not to marry, making him one of the most eligible bachelors in India. This unique aspect of his life has only added to the enigmatic allure that surrounds this business icon.
Ratan Tata as Chairperson
Ratan Tata’s tenure as the Chairperson of Tata Sons from 1991 to 2012 was marked by significant transformations in the conglomerate. He faced resistance as he implemented changes, introducing the retirement age and centralizing operations. Under his leadership, the company’s revenues grew over 40 times, and profits over 50 times, as he steered Tata Group towards becoming a global business.
He facilitated key acquisitions like Tata Tea buying Tetley, Tata Motors acquiring Jaguar Land Rover, and Tata Steel taking over Corus. Ratan Tata’s vision also led to the development of the affordable Tata Nano car, aimed at the average Indian consumer. After stepping down, he briefly returned as interim chairman in 2016, ultimately appointing Natarajan Chandrasekaran as his successor in 2017, ensuring a seamless transition of leadership.
Ratan Tata’s Generosity: Changing Lives Through Education and Research
Ratan Tata is a kind-hearted philanthropist who believes in making the world a better place through his generous contributions. He has supported various initiatives, from providing clean water to supporting education, healthcare, and research, positively impacting lives across the globe.
- Helping with Clean Water: Ratan Tata helped the University of New South Wales Faculty of Engineering provide better water to places that really need it.
- Scholarships for Indian Students: He set up the Tata Scholarship Fund with $28 million to help students from India study at Cornell University. This scholarship supports about 20 students at a time.
- Supporting Harvard Business School: In 2010, companies from the Tata Group and Tata charities gave $50 million to Harvard Business School to build a special center for executives.
- Big Donation to Carnegie Mellon University: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) donated $35 million to Carnegie Mellon University. This money went towards building a big research facility for things like smart computers and self-driving cars. This donation was the largest ever made by a company.
- Tata’s Generosity at IIT Bombay: In 2014, the Tata Group gave a huge amount of Rs. 950 million to the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay. This was the largest gift the institute had ever gotten. Because of this, they were able to establish the Tata Center for Technology and Design, which does important work.
- Fighting Alzheimer’s Disease: Tata Trusts gave ₹750 million to the Centre for Neuroscience at the Indian Institute of Science. This money is used to study Alzheimer’s disease and find better ways to detect and treat it.
- MIT Tata Center: Ratan Tata also helped set up the MIT Tata Center of Technology and Design at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This centre focuses on finding solutions for communities that don’t have a lot of resources, especially in India.
Ratan Tata Family Tree
Jamshedji Nusserwanji Tata
- Founder of Tata Group, India’s largest conglomerate.
- Married to Hirabai Daboo.
Dorabji Tata
- Elder son of Jamshedji Tata.
- Second chairperson of Tata Group.
- Married to Meherbai Tata, who was the aunt of nuclear scientist Homi J. Bhabha.
Ratanji Tata
- Younger son of Jamshedji Tata.
- Pioneer of poverty studies.
- Married to Navajbai Tata.
- Adopted an orphan, Naval Tata, who was the grand-nephew of Hirabai Tata.
Naval Tata
- Adopted son of Navajbai Tata.
- Director in several Tata companies.
- Received the Padma Bhushan.
- Had three sons: Ratan Tata (5th chairperson of Tata Group), Jimmy Tata, and Noel Tata (Chairperson of Trent Limited).
Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata
- Early stalwart in the Tata Group.
- Son of Dadabhoy and Jamshedji Tata’s sister, Jeevanbai.
- Married to Suzanne Brière.
- Father of J.R.D. Tata and Sylla Tata.
Ratan Tata Biography Summary
FAQs on Ratan Tata Biography
Who is Ratan Tata?
Ratan Tata is a prominent Indian philanthropist and industrialist . He served as the chairman of Tata Group for several years and played a significant role in transforming the conglomerate into a global business force.
When was Ratan Tata born?
Ratan Tata was born on December 28, 1937, in Bombay, British India, which is now Mumbai
What is Ratan Tata's educational background?
Ratan Tata earned a bachelor's degree in architecture from Cornell University College and later attended Harvard Business School.
How long did Ratan Tata serve as the chairman of Tata Group?
Ratan Tata served as the chairman of Tata Group for 22 years, from 1990 to 2012. He also briefly returned as interim chairman in 2016.
What were some of Ratan Tata's notable achievements as the chairman of Tata Group?
Ratan Tata oversaw the acquisition of global companies like Tetley, Jaguar Land Rover, and Corus, which helped Tata Group expand its global presence and revenue significantly
