Ratan Naval Tata- an epitome of benevolence, nobility & perspicaciousness. He is the country’s true treasure. He was born to Naval Tata and Sooni Tata. Naval Tata was the adopted son of Ratanji Tata, the younger son of Jamsetji Tata, founding father of the Tata group.

Ratan Tata received his early education at Campion School, Mumbai. Later, he enrolled at The Cathedral & John Connan School, Mumbai & at the Bishop Cotton School, Shimla. he graduated from New York’s Riverdale Country School in 1955 & holds an architecture degree from Cornell University, USA. He is also a Harvard Business School graduate.

During his tenure as Chairman of the Tata Group (1991-2012), Revenues soared over 40 times & profits increased by 50 times. The company’s revenue grew from $5.7 billion in 1991 to an astounding $103 billion in 2016. His efforts propelled India’s ascension to the forefront of global trade. His acquisition of renowned and fabled foreign companies made Tata more global.

 Tetley, the UK’s largest tea brand; a 25% stake in VSNL; NatSteel, Singapore’s single largest steel producer; South Korea’s Daewoo Motors; New York’s iconic – The Pierre hotel; Boston’s Ritz-Carlton hotel; San Francisco’s Campton Hotel; and Ford’s Jaguar and Land Rover are just a few of his cardinal acquisitions.

TATA NANO- Ratan Tata’s Dream Project

Nano cleped as the “World’s Cheapest Car” has a backstory worth knowing. The idea of an ‘economical and safe transport’ was devised in Sir Ratan Tata’s mind when he saw a family of 4 on a scooter, riding away in the rain on the treacherous road. It made him worried, not just about their safety but for many other families just like them.

“The fact of unsafe travel was bothering me,” said Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus, Tata Sons and Chairman, Tata Trusts.

 “What really motivated me, and sparked a desire to produce such a vehicle, was constantly seeing Indian families riding on scooters, four or five on a scooter, maybe the child sandwiched between the mother and father, riding to wherever they were going, often on slippery roads in the dark.” He further quoted.

His initial idea wasn’t a Car, it was to make scooters safer. “That mutated into four wheels, no windows, no doors, just a basic dune buggy. I finally decided it should be a car.” stated Tata.

Nano was more than just a car, it represented a promise. He promised the people an “economical and safer” mode of transportation, quoting a price of 1,00,000 Rupees. Even though ‘The People’s Car’ had a bumpy ride in the market and is now discontinued, Sir Ratan Tata’s gesture will live on in the hearts of all Indians.

PHILANTHROPY- THE TATA WAY

Ratan Tata has done a lot of humanitarian work, following in the footsteps of Jamshedji Tata, the Century’s Greatest Philanthropist. But it was his grandmother, Navajbai Tata’s, generosity that truly inspired him and has lingered with him to this day. “She had homes for the poor all over the country…she operated in that way not to gain visibility for herself, but she was a very Kind-hearted & passionate in terms of doing away with misery,” Tata said, talking about his grandmother.

To help India battle the baneful & virulent COVID-19, he donated 1500 crores. “The COVID 19 crisis is one of the toughest challenges we will face as a race. The Tata Trusts and the Tata group companies have in the past risen to the needs of the nation. At this moment, the need of the hour is greater than any other time.” In an Instagram post, he stated.

Tata Education and Development Trust – a philanthropic affiliate of India’s Tata Group – a $25 million endowment, that allows Cornell to provide financial aid to undergraduate students from India.

The Tata Trust also teamed up with khan academy, a Non-Profit-Organization, to provide free online education to all Indians.

Tata group donated a 551 bedded COVID-19 Hospital, built from scratch utilizing prefabricated shipping containers.

Tata Steel’s 1000 school project, awarded the “Most Impactful CSR Project, 2018″, Aimed at improving the quality of education in Government schools as well as strengthening the governance against child labour & increasing access to schools.

Tata’s contribution to building India is unmatchable & prodigious.