10/10/2024
I had a very brief view of Late Ratan Tata almost two decades ago - rather a fleeting glimpse - and what transpired during this brief glimpse still gives me lessons in living an unassuming but a very meaningful life - meaningful to the entire country, nay, the entire world.
It was circa 2005 - I was sitting at the Pune airport, waiting to board my flight back to Delhi. Suddenly there was a huge commotion and I was told Ratan Tata was heading to the tarmac - he was scheduled to fly his plane back to Mumbai or some other place. He and the few people accompanying him passed by the place I was sitting. I starkly remember - he was carrying a lush-looking leather bag, and the members of his entourage were requesting him to hand over the bag to them. He ignored those requests - and strode calmly and confidently ahead, lugging his own luggage along.
He did the same with his business - when he took over, there was rebellion almost all across the Tata companies. The satraps wanted to take over and break free of the Tata Sons - they felt emboldened to attempt this as the holdings of Tata Sons was very low in almost all the Tata group companies.
Without losing his composure, one by one, late Ratan Tata quelled each of these attempts; strategically grew the holdings of Tata Sons in all the Tata Group companies - and reinstated the almost-falling-apart group into a credible and impactive business behemoth.
And once this set of consolidation was over, he then began acquiring businesses and gave multiple new businesses and successes to the Tata group.
I have never heard anybody badmouthing him or criticising him. Hats off. India has lost an icon! We miss you, Sir!
