Ratan Tata ran a hundred-billion-dollar empire, but he never appeared on any billionaires list. This anomaly is explained by Tata Group’s unique structure where wealth is held by charitable trusts that reinvest the group’s profits in philanthropic activities—in education, health care and human welfare. In Ratan’s case, however, there is also a symbolic significance in the incongruity: he was not only a remarkably self-effacing, low-key individual but also he had a billionaire’s heart. His life’s lesson was simply that the real measure of success lies in serving society. He was universally respected because he was the conscience keeper of India Inc. It explains the spontaneous outpouring of grief, respect and admiration across India when he passed away on October 9.
Sometime in the late 1980s, I was privileged to be invited to join the board of one of the Tata companies. At a meeting in Bombay House one morning, the chairman, Freddie Mehta, invited a young man, whom he affectionately called ‘Ratan’. I didn’t know the stranger, but I remember him for his modest, shy manner. Nothing about him proclaimed that he was a mighty ‘Tata’. Fifteen minutes into the meeting, a dog entered the board room and without any fuss it sat down at Ratan’s feet. The broadminded board acted as though it was the most natural thing in the world. Later, I learned that the four-legged guest was one of the stray dogs that Ratan had picked up outside Bombay House a few days earlier and given temporary shelter in his office.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 27, 2024-Ausgabe von THE WEEK India.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 27, 2024-Ausgabe von THE WEEK India.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Kashmir, Kashmiris need Delhi's trust
Of the 49 seats in the Kashmir valley, the National Conference won 42; the Congress, six; the CPI(M), one; the BJP, zero; the Jamaat-e-Islami, zero. It was a clean sweep for INDIA.
No sanctions on style
I was both thrilled and alarmed to be invited to this year’s Moscow Fashion Week; it’s slowly but sure-footedly trailing back to normal after the pandemic shutdown.
SECOND HELPING
Sandeep Verma and Valerie saw their ambitions crash. A beach-front cafe has been the saviour to their soul, and a roadmap to the future
Nobel tolls for Me
This, this is an abomination! The whole thing is rigged! It’s a disgrace!”
Despite AI, creating a tune still needs a human heart and philosophical mind
Two or three decades ago, it would have been unthinkable to get A.R. Rahman to agree to a quick interview, let alone have a leisurely chat after work.
DRAWS BE DAMNED
An attacking, high-risk approach could well become the staple of Test cricket
LIGHTS. ACTION
IF YOU ARE RISK AVERSE, GO FOR THE SPECIAL FD SCHEMES BANKS ARE OFFERING THIS FESTIVE SEASON
HEDGE YOUR BETS
MULTI-ASSET ALLOCATION FUNDS MAY BE A GOOD CHOICE FOR FIRST-TIME INVESTORS OR EVEN FOR THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING AT INVESTMENTS WITH LOW-RISK AND LOWER VOLATILITY
FASHION'S NEW MISSION
A memorandum signed by 50 BRICS+ countries signals the need for fashion to move away from western perspectives
Ratan was beyond honours
On the day of his passing, Ratan Tata was eulogised in the media as ‘India’s Crown Jewel’, ‘Living Legend’, ‘Ultimate Icon’ and so much more.