Even though Ratan Tata is not among us today, his memory will always be alive in the hearts of 140 crore people of the country. Ratan Tata was one of the most influential industrialists in the world, yet he never appeared in any list of billionaires. He owned more than 30 companies that were spread across more than 100 countries on six continents, yet he lived a simple life. Tata was a corporate giant with a simple personality, who had created a different kind of image on the basis of his decency and honesty.
The special thing is that when Ratan Tata obtained BS degree in Architecture from Cornell University, New York in 1962, he had a job offer in IBM, one of the world's leading companies. But he rejected that offer at the insistence of his uncle JRD. His uncle JRD Tata wanted him to understand the family business and then take over it. Then what was left. He came to his country and followed his uncle's advice and joined the group.
If you feel that Ratan Tata would have got a big post as soon as he joined the group, then it was absolutely so. He initially worked in a company and gained experience in various businesses of the Tata Group, after which in 1971 he was appointed Director in-charge of National Radio and Electronics Company (a firm of the group). After that he never looked back. He carried out reforms in many companies of the group. Tried to speed up the business by bringing in new and talented youth. Within no time, many companies of the group started writing new stories of success. But history was yet to be made. That year was coming for the country, when many doors were about to open for all the companies of the entire country and the world.
A decade later, he became the chairman of Tata Industries and in 1991 took over as chairman of the Tata Group from his uncle JRD Tata. JRD Tata was in this post for more than five decades. This was the year India opened up its economy and the Tata Group, which had started as a small textile and trading firm in 1868, quickly transformed itself into a global leader, with operations spanning everything from salt to steel to cars. It had spread to software, power plants and airlines. This is the period when Tata Group created many histories under the leadership of Ratan Tata. The group's revenue and profit reached new heights.
Ratan Tata served as chairman of Tata Sons, the group's main holding company, for more than two decades, during which the group expanded rapidly, purchasing London-based Tetley Tea for US$431.3 million in 2000 and South Korea's Daewoo in 2004. Motors for US$102 million, bought Anglo-Dutch steel maker Corus Group for US$11 billion, and bought the famous British car brands Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford Motor Company for US$2.3 billion.
Along with being one of India's most successful businessmen, he was also known for his philanthropic activities. His personal involvement in philanthropy began very early. In the 1970s, he initiated the Aga Khan Hospital and Medical College project, which laid the foundation of one of India's premier healthcare institutions.
