India holds state funeral for tycoon Ratan Tata 14 hours ago Simon Fraser BBC News The funeral has taken place in Mumbai of Ratan Tata, the former chairman of one of India’s biggest conglomerates, Tata Group, who died on Wednesday aged 86. Business leaders, politicians and celebrities were among thousands of people who paid their last respects at the centre where his body lay in state before being cremated.
Ratan Tata took over as group chairman in 1991 and is credited with transforming it into a global powerhouse.
Fellow business tycoon Mukesh Ambani, Home Minister Amit Shah and Bollywood star Aamir Khan were among those present to say goodbye.
From there, he went on to work at the Tata Iron and Steel Company (now Tata Steel), Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and National Radio and Electronics (Nelco).
In 1991, JRD Tata, who had led the group for over half a century, appointed Ratan Tata as his successor.
Titanic benefactor Ratan Tata is given a state funeral in India.
A 14-hour ago.
Fraser Simon.
BBC News.
Ratan Tata, the 86-year-old former chairman of the Tata Group, one of the largest conglomerates in India, had his funeral held in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Thousands of people, including politicians, business executives, and celebrities, paid their final respects at the location where his body was placed before it was cremated.
The state of Maharashtra observed a day of mourning, and when his coffin was removed for the funeral ceremonies, the military saluted it.
As group chairman since 1991, Ratan Tata is recognized for having built the company into a major force in the world.
After Ratan Tata’s body was taken in the morning, thousands of people showed up to pay their respects at the National Centre for Performing Arts in Mumbai.
White flower wreaths were placed over his coffin, which was draped in the Indian flag.
Among those in attendance to bid farewell were Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, Home Minister Amit Shah, and fellow business magnate Mukesh Ambani.
Two Tata employees were also present, along with Ratan Tata’s dog, Goa. The dog’s name comes from the fact that it was saved from the streets of the state of Goa.
Known for his charitable endeavors in the fields of education, health, and animal welfare, the tycoon also had a reputation for being quiet and reserved.
The news of Tata’s passing broke late on Wednesday. Earlier this week, he was admitted to the hospital.
“We will be motivated to maintain the values he so fervently advocated by his legacy,” a company statement read.
He was one of India’s most well-known business figures abroad, and the Tata Group is among the country’s biggest corporations, with yearly sales exceeding $100 billion (£76.5 billion).
Established 155 years ago, the group spans across several industries, including aviation, salt pans, and steel and automotive giants Tata and Jaguar Land Rover.
The world’s second-largest tea company, Tetley, Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus, UK-based automakers Jaguar and Land Rover, and other high-profile acquisitions were made by the conglomerate during his 20-year leadership.
A telecom project that failed and the Nano, which was marketed as the world’s cheapest car but fell flat, were two examples of the decisions that gained financial success and failure.
In 1937, Tata was born into a traditional Parsi family. At Cornell University in the US, he pursued studies in structural engineering and architecture.
His training at a company plant in Jamshedpur lasted six months after he joined Tata Industries, the group’s promoter company, in 1962 as an assistant.
Later on, he worked for National Radio and Electronics (Nelco), Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and the Tata Iron and Steel Company (now Tata Steel).
Ratan Tata was named JRD Tata’s successor in 1991 after Tata had headed the company for more than 50 years. “The best mentor I ever had was JRD Tata. He was to me like a brother and father, and not enough has been spoken about that,” Tata subsequently stated in an interview.
The Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award in India, was given to him by the government in 2008.
Tata was praised as a “visionary business leader, a compassionate soul, and an extraordinary human being” by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
