The mortal remains of the Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons and recipient of India’s second highest civilian honour, Padma Vibhushan, Ratan Tata, wrapped in the tricolour reached the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in south Mumbai. The mortal remains will be kept there for public viewing till 4 pm and the last rites will be performed in the Worli area of Mumbai later in the day. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will attend the last rites on behalf of the Centre.
Visuals from the spot showed a large gathering in the area as people tried to catch the last glimpse of the corporate titan.
#WATCH | Mumbai | Mortal remains of veteran industrialist Ratan N Tata kept at NCPA lawns for the public to pay their last respects pic.twitter.com/9YlcsHgo1u
— ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2024
Tata received the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian honour in India in 2018 and the third-highest civilian honour Padma Bhushan in 2000. He worked on the shop floor of Tata Steel and later succeeded J R D Tata as chairman of Tata Sons in 1991. Under his tenure, the Tata Group acquired Tetley, Jaguar Land Rover, and Corus, in an attempt to turn Tata from a largely India-centric group into a global business.
“It is with a profound sense of loss that we bid farewell to Ratan Naval Tata, a truly uncommon leader whose immeasurable contributions have shaped not only the Tata Group but also the very fabric of our nation,” Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran said in a statement.
Chandrasekaran said Tata, a friend, mentor and guide, led by example and had an unwavering commitment to excellence, integrity, and innovation.
He was admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital in a critical condition on Monday (October 7) morning. Earlier on Monday, Tata, known for his philanthropy besides being a respected industry leader, had asserted that there was no cause for concern regarding his health and he was undergoing check-ups for age-related medical conditions.
The veteran industrialist was highly respected for his values by the public and the business world. In 1991, he took over the reins of the Tata Group, founded by his great-grandfather Jamsetji Tata. Under his leadership, the company grew into a massive empire, which is said to be worth $100 billion.
He retired from the chairman’s position in December 2012 and was succeeded by Cyrus Mistry, who passed away in 2022 in a car accident. After retirement, Ratan Tata was conferred the title of chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, Tata Industries, Tata Motors, Tata Steel, and Tata Chemicals.
