Ratan Tata, one of India's most respected businessmen, turned 86 today. The Tata Sons Chairman is known not just for his contributions to the business world, but also his philanthropic activities.
Here are 10 intriguing and lesser-known facts about Ratan Tata:
Ratan Naval Tata is the great-grandson of Jamsetji Tata who founded the Tata Group. He was born on December 28, 1937, in Mumbai to Naval Tata and Sooni Tata.
He was raised by his grandmother, Navajbai Tata after his parents separated in 1948.
Despite coming close to marriage on four occasions, Ratan Tata is still unmarried.
He once admitted that he fell in love while working in Los Angeles. But because of the ongoing 1962 Indo-China War, the girl's parents refused to let her move to India.
Commencing his career in 1961, Ratan Tata started from the ground up, managing operations on the shop floor of Tata Steel. This experience laid the foundation for his future leadership role within the group.
He began restructuring the Tata group at a time when the liberalisation of the Indian economy was underway. He played an instrumental role in the business expansion of popular cars including the Tata Nano and Tata Indica.
He got Tata Tea to acquire Tetley, Tata Motors to acquire Jaguar Land Rover, and Tata Steel to acquire Corus in 2004.
In 2009, Ratan fulfilled his promise to make the world's cheapest car accessible to the middle class. The Tata Nano, priced at Rs 1 lakh, became a symbol of innovation and affordability.
With over 12 million followers on X (formerly Twitter), Ratan Tata is the 'most followed entrepreneur' in the country, according to the 360 ONE Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2023.
Continuing a tradition dating back to the time of Jamsetji Tata, Ratan Tata ensured that Bombay House, the Tata group's headquarters, remained a haven for stray dogs. The recently renovated Bombay House includes a dedicated kennel with provisions for food, water, toys, and a play area, embodying his compassion for animals.
