OBITUARY: RATAN NAVAL TATA (28 DECEMBER 1937 – 9 OCTOBER 2024)
The passing of Ratan Tata, an icon of Indian industry, marks the end of an era that redefined the possibilities for Indian business, innovation, and technological advancement. A man of remarkable vision and compassion, Tata was not only a leader of one of India’s most prominent conglomerates but also a key architect of the country’s modern technological and scientific landscape. His commitment to ethical leadership, philanthropy, and cutting-edge innovation transformed India’s economic and technological framework. While Ratan Tata is celebrated for his contributions to business, his influence in the realms of science and technology remains one of his most lasting legacies.
Ratan Naval Tata was born on 28 December 1937, into the illustrious Tata family, known for its immense contributions to industry, philanthropy, and national development. His father, Naval Hormusji Tata (1904-1989), was adopted by Sir Ratanji Tata (1871-1918), son of Jamsetji Tata (1839-1904), the founder of the Tata Group. Despite his privileged background, Ratan Tata was instilled with values of discipline, hard work, and responsibility from an early age.
Tata attended the Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai before moving to the United States for higher studies. He earned a degree in architecture from Cornell University in 1962 and later pursued the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 1975.
His international education exposed him to cutting-edge ideas in business and technology, which would
later shape his leadership of the Tata Group.
Images Courtesy: Internet
PROMOTING SCIENCE:
A FAMILY LEGACY
Ratan Tata carried the vision and legacy of his great-grandfather, Jamsetji Tata, with a deep sense of reverence and responsibility. Jamsetji Tata, the founder of the Tata Group, was an industrial pioneer and a visionary who believed in the power of industry to uplift the nation. He laid the foundation for modern industry in India with the establishment of Tata Steel, and he harboured ambitions of creating institutions that would propel India into the future, especially in education, science, and technology.
The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), one of India’s leading research institutions, has been a central hub for scientific research and advanced education since its establishment in 1909 by Jamsetji Tata, Ratan Tata’s great-grandfather. Jamsetji’s vision of creating an institution that would focus on advancing scientific knowledge in India laid the foundation for IISc’s stature as a globally recognised center for research in science, engineering, and technology. Beginning with the IISc, the Tatas established other institutions like Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS), Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI), Tata Centre for Technology and Design (TCTD), Tata Research Development and Design Centre (TRDDC), Tata Centre for Advanced Materials (TCAM), National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA), Tata Memorial Hospital, National Institute of Advanced Studies, among the others.
Ratan Tata embodied Jamsetji’s ideals throughout his life. He often referenced Jamsetji’s vision, particularly his dream of India becoming self-reliant in science and technology, as a guiding principle in his group leadership. He took charge of Tata Group as its chairman in 1991, succeeding JRD Tata . Under Ratan Tata’s leadership, the Tata Group underwent a significant transformation. He restructured the organisation, focusing on modernising its businesses and expanding into new industries such as technology, telecommunications, and automobiles. He recognised the importance of new technologies and industries like information technology, telecommunications, and clean energy, which aligned with Jamsetji’s original vision of innovation-driven industrialisation. In this sense, Ratan Tata was both the keeper and the moderniser of Jamsetji’s ideals, ensuring that the Tata Group continued to serve as a force for social good while driving India’s economic and technological progress into the 21st century.
Ratan Tata was instrumental in establishing the Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS) under the Bangalore Life Science Cluster at NCBS (National Centre for Biological Sciences). Under his guidance, TIGS emerged as a platform dedicated to harnessing advanced biological knowledge and techniques, focusing on affordability and equity in food, nutrition, and health.
One of Ratan Tata’s greatest gifts to India was his unshakable belief that technology and innovation were key drivers of progress. His vision to develop indigenous Indian cars was instrumental in transforming India into one of the world’s leading car manufacturers. Under Ratan Tata’s leadership, Tata Motors expanded its reach beyond India. In 2008, the company made global headlines when it acquired the iconic British car brands Jaguar and Land Rover (JLR) from Ford Motor Company. This acquisition was a turning point for Tata Motors and for India’s place in the global automotive industry.
Under Ratan Tata’s direction, Tata Communications and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) emerged as giants in the global telecommunications and IT sectors. Tata Communications became one of the world’s leading providers of telecommunications services, and its contributions to the fibre optic network helped lay the groundwork for the digital revolution in India.
Ratan Tata’s legacy in technology also includes his steadfast commitment to sustainability and green technologies. Long before it became a global imperative, Tata had recognized the potential of renewable energy to transform India’s energy landscape. He promoted investments in solar power, wind energy, and clean technologies through Tata Power, one of India’s leading energy companies. Under his guidance, Tata Power became a pioneer in the renewable energy sector, with investments in large-scale solar farms and wind energy projects that have helped India transition toward a more sustainable energy future.
PATRONAGE TO SPACE PROGRAMMES
He promoted strategic investments in aerospace, positioning India as a significant player in the global space industry. His support for Tata Advanced Systems helped catalyse India’s participation in international aerospace collaborations, including manufacturing parts for Boeing and Lockheed Martin. By building expertise in aerospace engineering, Tata ensured that India played a vital role in the global supply chain for defence and commercial aerospace technologies.
Tata’s patronage also extended to India’s space programmes. Tata Advanced Systems has been selected as one of three private companies by ISRO for the Assembly, Integration and Testing of Satellites for various applications. Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) has taken a significant step into the space sector by partnering with Satellogic Inc. to establish India’s first fully integrated satellite manufacturing capability. This collaboration, signed in November 2023, positions TASL at the forefront of Earth Observation (EO) satellite development in India. The partnership’s first milestone is the launch of TSAT-1A, an advanced sub-meter resolution Earth Observation satellite.
Ratan Tata was known for his commitment to ethical leadership throughout his life. He believed that technological progress should not come at the expense of societal values. He saw technology as a means to solve societal challenges, and his philanthropic work, business decisions, and leadership reflected this vision. Whether it was promoting digital literacy, supporting research in frontier technologies, or advocating for policies that fostered innovation, Tata remained focused on building a more inclusive and technologically advanced India.
In 2008, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, in recognition of his contributions to trade and industry. He also received the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE), a rare honour for non-British citizens, in acknowledgement of his role in the turnaround of Jaguar Land Rover.
Ratan Tata’s passing marks the end of an era, but his legacy will endure for generations to come. As the visionary leader who propelled Indian science and technology forward, he will be remembered for his achievements and the values he embodied: humility, integrity, and a deep sense of responsibility to society.
*The writer is the Dean (Academic Affairs) at Garden City University, Bangalore, and an Adjunct Faculty at National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore. He can be contacted at bijudharmapalan@gmail.com.
