In a nation of more than 140 crore people, there have been few businessmen with greater respect than Ratan Tata.

Ratan Tata, the celebrated Indian industrialist and former chairman of Tata Sons, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 86.

He stood out as a prominent business tycoon and philanthropist whose success story has profoundly impacted India’s economy. Often described as shy and a loner, Ratan Tata, one of India's most internationally-recognised business leaders, served as the chairman of 'Tata Group' for more than two decades when he retired at the age of 75 in 2012.

Tata was one veteran industry leader with no massive controversy. Known for his business acumen, vision and strong work ethic, he turned his family business into an international empire. During his tenure, the group's revenues grew manifold, totaling over $100 billion in 2011-12.

RATAN TATA: HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AND STEADY RISE

Born in 1937 into the illustrious Tata family, Ratan Tata faced personal challenges early on, with his parents' separation at the age of 10 and subsequent upbringing by his grandmother. But this helped him inculcate resilience and a deep understanding of family values.

Despite growing up in a luxurious home and with qualifications including a degree in architecture and structural engineering from Cornell University and the Harvard Advanced Management Program to his name, Ratan Tata rejected a job offer from IBM. He started working on the shop floor of Telco (now Tata Motors) in 1962 where he shoveled limestone and was a team member in the blast furnaces.

He built his career from the ground up, worked with different companies within the Tata Group and eventually became the director of National Radio and Electronics (NELCO) in 1971. It took him nine years to move from an apprentice to a director but he never shied away from working hard, showing unwavering commitment and dedication to understand the on-ground realities and nuances of the common man. He steadily rose through the ranks, honing his skills and gaining invaluable experience in diverse industries across the group.

“Our grandmother taught us to retain dignity at all costs, a value that’s stayed with me until today.” – Ratan Tata

RATAN TATA: THE RISK TAKER

Take a look anywhere in India - there's one brand you will find almost everywhere - Tata. It would be hard to find a person in the country who has not used a Tata product or service. From Tata salt to Tata Motors - you name it, they have it. Tata is perhaps India's most ubiquitous brand.

But this journey was far from easy. Despite odds, Ratan Tata showed rare courage and pulled off big acquisitions.

In 1991, when Ratan Tata took over from JRD Tata as Chairman of Tata Sons and Chairman of the Tata Trusts, he began restructuring of the Tata group at a time when the Indian economic liberalization was underway.

The growth and globalisation drive of the Tata group gathered pace under his stewardship and the new millennium saw a string of high-profile Tata acquisitions. Among them were Tetley for $431.3 million, Corus for $11.3 billion, Jaguar Land Rover for $2.3 billion, Brunner Mond, General Chemical Industrial Products and Daewoo for $102 million.

These daring moves under Ratan Tata's astute leadership helped the Tata group to expand its global footprint, reaching over 100 countries, thus giving a significant boost to the Indian industrial sector. He has been credited with turning Tata from a largely India-centric company into a global business.

The company also bought hotels, chemical companies, communications networks and energy providers around the world.

Moreover, the return of Air India back into the Tata fold was widely seen as a way of honouring his forefathers, as it was founded by his uncle and mentor Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata in 1932.

"The biggest risk is not taking any risk. In a world that is changing quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks."

RATAN TATA’S MASS CONNECT

You can hardly cross a street in India without seeing a Tata truck, bus or SUV.

Ratan Tata tapped into the pulse of the Indian market to understand people's needs and daily lives. He led initiatives like the Tata Nano, the world's cheapest car designed for affordability and mass mobility, and not to forget Tata Indica, a pioneering attempt at creating a truly Indian car.

“I remember seeing a family of four on a motorbike in the heavy Bombay rain — I knew I wanted to do more for these families who were risking their lives for lack of an alternative," Tata had recalled, giving the reason why he decided to come up with Tata Nano. This reflected Ratan Tata's unwavering belief in empowering the common man.

"The greatest pleasure I've had is trying to do something, everybody says 'could not be done.'"- Ratan Tata

RATAN TATA: A LIFETIME OF GIVING

Ratan Tata's vision extended beyond profit. He was deeply committed to social responsibility and sustainability. Ratan Tata ranked 433 in the IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2021. This perhaps was because he was also one of the most generous philanthropists.

His foundation Tata Trusts, one of India's largest charitable organizations, has built technology centers to provide scholarships to students and support projects related to healthcare, education, rural development and sustainable living. He also donated Rs 500 crore when the world was fighting the deadly pandemic, a move that earned him numerous praises.

Ratan Tata also donated $50 million to his alma mater, Harvard Business School for building an executive center. The Tata Trusts have financed many educational institutes such as the Indian Institute of Science and various IIM campuses.

In the aftermath of the deadly 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, Ratan Tata set up the ‘Taj Public Service Welfare Trust’ to help the victims and their families get rehabilitated.

The visionary industrialist also invested in a startup that connects senior citizens with young graduates for meaningful friendships. He has backed over 50 startups including eyewear retailer Lenskart, digital payments brand Paytm, electric vehicle startup Ola Electric Mobility and online stock trading platform Upstox.

His love for dogs needs no introduction. Tata Sons' global headquarters at Bombay House is home to several strays who are looked after by the group.

Ratan Tata also found his assistant Shantanu Naidu through their mutual love for dogs. Naidu connected with Tata when he sought funding for his first startup, Motopaws, a social enterprise that provided reflective collars for street dogs.

In 2021, social media users were full of praise for Ratan Tata when he travelled from Mumbai to Pune to visit a former employee who had been unwell for two years.

The government recognized his contributions to the industry and society and awarded him Padma Bhushan in 2000 and Padma Vibhushan in 2008, both of which are among India's highest civilian awards. He also received honorary doctorates from several universities in India and overseas.

A revered figure in India, Ratan Tata's unparalleled legacy is multi-faceted.