Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, one of India's largest companies, died at the age of 86. On Monday, the entrepreneur denied suspicions about his health in a social media post, stating that he was undergoing standard medical tests owing to his age.
In a late-night announcement on Wednesday, N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, revealed Mr. Tata's death and praised the industrialist's steadfast devotion to excellence, integrity, and innovation.
"It is with a profound sense of loss that we bid farewell to Mr. Ratan Naval Tata, a truly uncommon leader whose immeasurable contributions have shaped not only the Tata Group but also the very fabric of our nation," said Mr Chandrasekaran.
Ratan Tata was born on December 28, 1937, in Mumbai, and came from one of India's most prominent corporate dynasties. He was the great-grandson of Jamsetji Tata, the founder of Tata Group, which began as a small commercial enterprise in 1868.
He attended the elite Cathedral and John Connon Schools in Mumbai before relocating to the United States for further schooling. Ratan Tata attended Cornell University and graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science in architecture.
In 1991, Mr. Tata succeeded his legendary uncle, JRD Tata, as chairman of the Tata Group. He was key in the conglomerate's acquisition of foreign companies including Corus and Jaguar Land Rover.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced that Ratan Tata will be cremated with full state honors. The national flag will be flown at half-mast across government offices in Maharashtra as a mark of respect. The cremation will take place in the Worli area later in the day.
Meanwhile, members of the Indian cricket team took to social media to pay their respects to Ratan Tata and shared their condolences.
Here are the posts:
