“I don’t believe in taking the right decisions, I take decisions and then make them right.” – Ratan Tata
Ratan Tata’s name is respected in both the corporate world and charitable spheres. Ratan Naval Tata, a prominent Indian industrialist and former chairman of Tata Sons, sadly passed away on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at the age of 86. With the passing of manufacturing magnate Ratan Tata, the world feels like it’s lost something truly timeless. The Tata Group donates 66% of its profits to support charitable causes like health care, education, and employee welfare.
What do we not know yet, and what insights can we gather? Let’s dive into the fascinating stories of this visionary leader and discover the true essence of his remarkable journey.
Which film was produced by Tata?
Did you know that Ratan Tata was involved in producing a Bollywood film back in 2004? ‘Aetbaar’ is a romantic psychological thriller directed by Vikram Bhatt, featuring Amitabh Bachchan, John Abraham, and Bipasha Basu in the lead roles.
Ratan Tata teamed up with Jatin Kumar to produce the film. Aetbaar was inspired by the 1996 Hollywood film ‘Fear’. Tata Infomedia produced it.
Even with a great cast and a lot of excitement leading up to its release, Aetbaar didn’t quite hit the mark at the box office, bringing in only Rs 8 crore while it had a production budget of Rs 9.50 crore. This is the only film ever produced by Ratan Tata.
First Indian to fly F-16 fighter plane:
Did you know that Ratan Tata was really into flying? He was an avid pilot! Ratan Tata made headlines when he took to the skies in an F-16 fighter jet at the Aero India show in Bangalore back in February 2007. He was the first Indian citizen to take this aircraft for a spin. When he turned 69, Lockheed Martin, the American defense contractor, reached out to him with an invitation. He got to fly the F-16 Block 50 jet, which is worth over Rs 400 crore and can zoom up to a speed of 2000 km/hr.
Tata’s Heartfelt Love Stories:
At a Baroda Management Association event, he opened up to the students about his personal journey, sharing that even though he’s been in love four times, he’s still single. He mentioned that, for one reason or another, he never ended up getting married.
During his time in Los Angeles, Ratan Tata found himself falling for an American girl. He was totally in love with the girl and was all set to tie the knot. But then, he had to head back to India all of a sudden because his grandmother wasn’t doing well. So, back in 1962, there was a war that kicked off between India and China. The girl’s parents decided not to send her to India for this reason. Ratan Tata couldn’t make it back to America because his grandmother was seriously ill for a long time. Their love story stayed unfinished because of this.
There was a time when Ratan Tata and Bollywood actress Simi Grewal’s relationship really caught the spotlight. Simi actually shared in an interview with the Times of India that she had been in a relationship with Ratan Tata for quite a while. She mentioned that they thought about getting married, but in the end, they chose not to for a bunch of reasons. So, Ratan Tata and Simi Grewal had this deep emotional bond at first, but for some reason, it eventually fell apart. But they always had a mutual respect for one another.
What’s the story behind how Ratan Tata turned Ford’s rejection into a win?
Back in 1998, American and Japanese cars were really taking over the Indian market, and Tata Motors’ own car, the Tata Indica, wasn’t doing well. So, Ratan Tata decided to sell Tata Motors to Ford Motors, which is a big name in America.
During the meeting, Bill Ford asked Ratan Tata why he decided to start making the car if he didn’t have any knowledge about it. Ford’s CEO mentioned that the company is looking to buy Tata’s automotive division as a significant “favor.” This incident really hit Tata hard, but it only made him more determined to succeed in the automotive industry, even after facing setbacks.
The wheel of time turned, due to the recession in 2008, the condition of Ford Motor became like that of Tata Motors in 1999. In place of Bill Ford was Ratan Tata, and in place of Ratan Tata was Bill Ford. Ratan Tata took a historic decision and bought Ford’s luxury car brand Jaguar and Land Rover for $ 2.3 billion in 2008. The situation was such that when Ford company owner Bill Ford came to India, his words were – by buying Jaguar Land Rover Tata has done his company a big ‘favor’.
What was the inspiration behind Tata launching the Nano?
Ratan Tata once noticed a family of four riding on a scooter together. The family got completely drenched while riding the scooter in the rain. When Ratan Tata saw this, it really broke his heart. He mentioned that this scene sparked a desire in his mind to create a car that was both affordable and safe. He wanted to create a car that would be a safer choice for families who were at risk while riding on a scooter. So, the Tata Nano turned into a car for the people.
Love for dogs:
Ratan Tata’s dog Tito was very close to his heart. When Tito fell ill, Ratan Tata refused to attend an important ceremony where he was to be honored by Prince Charles for the lifetime achievement award for philanthropy. He said he couldn’t leave his sick dog alone. This incident highlighted his humanity and his selfless love for dogs.
Ratan Tata adopted a stray dog from Goa, whom he named “Goa”. This dog often accompanied him to the office and became an integral part of his life.
He ensured that stray dogs were allowed free access to Bombay House, the headquarters of the Tata Group. A special place has been created here for stray dogs, where they can get rest and food.
Harvard case study on Taj Mahal Hotel:
Harvard’s case study on the Taj Mahal hotel, titled ‘Terror at the Taj Bombay: Customer-Centric Leadership,’ highlights the courage and commitment of the hotel staff during the terrorist attacks in Mumbai on November 26, 2008. This study highlights some key points:
This case study dives into leadership and crisis management while highlighting how a solid organizational culture can lead to unique responses during tough times. Even someone as experienced as Ratan Tata couldn’t quite explain this behavior, which makes it a fascinating topic for psychological study.
Why was Tata’s funeral not performed as per Parsi customs?
The Parsi community has this important tradition of returning their loved ones to nature after they pass away. The Parsi community has a unique way of handling their deceased; they don’t cremate or bury them. Instead, they place the deceased in the ‘Tower of Silence’ (Dakhma), where vultures come and eat the body.
Vulture decline: This practice helps keep our natural elements—like water, air, and fire—safe from pollution. It’s really become a challenge for Zoroastrian customs with the decline of vultures since they used to take care of the dead bodies.
Hey, so you know how the Parsi community has been shifting their funeral practices lately? It’s all about being more mindful of the environment. These days, a lot of families are choosing electric crematoriums. They offer a practical and eco-friendly option for cremation, all while honoring Zoroastrian beliefs.
The funeral rites for well-known figures like Ratan Tata usually take into account the changing needs and situations of the community. They decided to carry out his last rites following Hindu rituals, just like they had done before for some other Parsi people.
The Maharashtra government gave Ratan Tata a state honor, which made his funeral procession even more memorable.
Because of these factors, Ratan Tata’s final ceremonies were held in an electric crematorium instead of following the usual Parsi customs.
FAQ:
Do you know how much Ratan Tata has given to charity?
Ratan Tata has donated more than $1 billion to charity. He leveraged the Tata Trusts to back education, healthcare, and community initiatives.
Hey, do you know what Ratan Tata’s net worth is?
Ratan Tata’s net worth is about $1 billion. He’s among the richest people in India.
Can you tell me about Ratan Tata’s education?
Ratan Tata earned his bachelor’s degree in architecture and structural engineering from Cornell University in the U.S. He’s got a master’s in management from MIT’s Sloan School of Management, too.
What is Ratan Tata’s role in the Tata Group?
Ratan Tata was the Chairman of Tata Sons from 1991 to 2012. He helped make the Tata Group a global name.
