Ratan Tata: 1937 TO 2024 APDO ANMOL RATAN

Ratan Tata had a deep connection with Gujarat even before Nano came to Sanand; he leaves behind a legacy and value system for India Inc to emulate

- AJAY UMAT

Ratan Naval Tata was a revered Indian industrialist and philanthropist who transformed the Tata Group from a predominantly India-centric company into a global powerhouse. Though his achievements spanned the globe, Ratan Tata held a special place in his heart for Gujarat where his Parsi forefathers first landed and were warmly welcomed.

Tata was an early believer in Gujarat's inherent spirit of enterprise and burgeoning startup and incubation ecosystem. He personally invested in and mentored several Gujarat-based startups, fostering innovation and encouraging young entrepreneurs.

Ratan Tata’s most ambitious and close-to-heart project was Nano: a safe and affordable car for the middle class Indians. A sensitive human being, the idea germinated when his heart melted at seeing a family of four shivering as they braved Mumbai’s rains on a scooter while he was driving past in his luxury car.

The West Bengal government offered land and a huge subsidy for this project. The idea clicked and it received a lot of inquiries for bookings, but soon it got mired in controversies, as opposition leader of West Bengal Mamta Banerjee opposed the acquisition of land from farmers to set up the plant. That politically motivated agitation turned violent.