Tata Group chairman emeritus Ratan Naval Tata passed away on Wednesday night (October 9) at the age of 86. His demise marks the end of an era for Indian industry. A towering figure in Indian industry, Tata’s influence extended beyond the corporate world. He was widely respected by his peers, including Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy. Their relationship, despite their competitive businesses, became a symbol of mutual respect in the Indian corporate landscape.
Murthy shared his admiration for how Tata conducted himself in both personal and professional settings, saying, “On rare occasions when he disagreed, he was not disagreeable.Whether he was speaking to an admiring teenager, of which there are, of course, zillions in India, or to a much-respected senior business person, his sincerity, depth of knowledge, intense patriotism, and his legendary courtesy shone through effortlessly.”
“I am from your biggest rival”
In a particularly touching anecdote, Murthy remembered when he had invited Ratan Tata to inaugurate the Jamshedji Tata Room at Infosys campus in 2004. Initially surprised by the invitation given their competitive nature, Tata agreed, recognizing the significance of honoring the legacy of Jamshedji Tata, the founder of the Tata Group. “He said, look, I find it somewhat unusual because TCS is your competitor. I said, no, Ratan, Jamshedji transcends all Indian companies,” the Infosys co-founder told ET Now, recounting the incident.
Murthy told Ratan Tata that Jamshedji Tata, the founder of the Tata Group, transcended business rivalries. He was a great patriot first and foremost, and Murthy believed that Ratan Tata, with his immense respect and admiration, was the ideal person to honor Jamshedji’s legacy.
Tata was recognized with numerous awards, including India’s second-highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, in 2008, for his immense contributions to industry and philanthropy.