Indian Legend Ratan Tata is a man beyond skill. The man who always preferred humanity over business and holds a major role in revolutionizing the Indian automobile industry. Here are 10 interesting facts about this man who proves that he is the real ‘Ratan’ of India.
Indian industrialist, philanthropist, and a former chairman of Tata Sons Ratan Tata is a big believer in the power of a CEO’s thinking and attitude both make or break them. Under his guidance and supervision, Tata Motors was able to achieve the historic contract with Ford Motors.
1) Childhood
Born in 1937, Ratan Tata’s father Naval Tata was the adopted grandson of Jamsetji Tata. His mother’s name was Sooni Tata. Ratan Tata is the great-grandson of Jamsetji Tata who founded the Tata Group. His parents got separated in 1948 when he was just 10. He was raised by his grandmother, Navajbai Tata.
2) He Is Unmarried
Ratan Tata is unmarried. He has admitted that he came close to marrying four times, but could not go through with it for various reasons.
3) A Scholar Par Excellence
Ratan Tata studied at the Campion School, Mumbai till the 8th class, followed by Cathedral and John Connon School, Mumbai and at Bishop Cotton School in Shimla and in 1955 graduated from Riverdale Country School in New York City. Tata scion went to Cornell University to study architecture and structural engineering in 1959. Later in 1975, he pursued a management course from Harvard Business School, an institution which he has since endowed.
4) First Job
Ratan Tata’s first job was at Tata Steel which he took up in the year 1961. His first responsibility was to manage the blast furnace and shovel limestone.
5) Humble and down to earth
Ratan Tata rejected a job opportunity from IBM. Instead, he joined his family business by starting on the shop floor of Tata Steel.
6)Took Tata Group To Soaring Heights
Becoming the Chairman of the Tata Group in 1991, he took the conglomerate to new heights and brought international recognition for the Tata Group. All this was possible through his pragmatic business skills.
7)Championed Some Historical Mergers
Ratan Tata accomplished some historical mergers for his company including Land Rover Jaguar with Tata Motors, Tetley with Tata Tea and Corus with Tata Steel. All these mergers played a significant role in the Tata Group’s phenomenal growth.
8)Keen On Keeping Promises
In 2009, he envisioned the Tata Nano car, the cheapest car in India worth Rs 1 lakh. He delivered on his promise.
9)Aid To Undergraduate Students
The Tata Group, under his leadership, endowed a scholarship fund of $28 million towards Cornell University to provide aid to undergraduate students from India.
10) A skilled Pilot
Ratan Tata loves flights and flying. He is a skilled pilot. Ratan Tata was the first Indian to pilot F-16 Falcon in 2007.
