RATAN TATA, CHAIRMAN emeritus of Tata Sons, one of India's largest conglomerates and owner of Taj Hotels, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 86. The veteran industrialist died at a hospital in Mumbai.
Taj Hotels, a luxury chain under the Indian Hotels Co. Ltd., was founded by Jamsetji Tata in 1903 and is part of the Tata Group.
Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran, describing Ratan Tata as his "friend, mentor and guide," confirmed the industrialist's passing in a statement.
"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,” Chandrasekaran said. “For the Tata Group, Ratan Tata was more than a chairperson. To me, he was a mentor, guide, and friend. He led by example, with unwavering commitment to excellence, integrity and innovation. Under his leadership, the Tata Group expanded globally while staying true to its core values.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X:
“Shri Ratan Tata Ji was a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being. He provided stable leadership to one of India’s oldest and most prestigious business houses. At the same time, his contributions went far beyond the boardroom. He endeared himself to many with his humility, kindness, and unwavering commitment to improving society.”
He received India's Padma Bhushan in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008.
Tata began his career in the group in 1962 and served as director-in-charge of National Radio and Electronics in 1971. In 1991, he became chairman of Tata Industries, leading its transformation into a strategic think tank and high-tech incubator.
Tata briefly worked with Jones and Emmons, a prominent architectural firm in Los Angeles, before graduating in architecture from Cornell University in 1962. He also completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 1975.
The Tata Group’s legacy extends beyond business into philanthropy, with more than 65 percent of Tata Sons’ shares funding charitable causes in education, healthcare, and social development. Even after retiring in 2012, he continued to invest in startups and support philanthropic initiatives.
Taj is now the world's second fastest-growing brand, after Sheraton’s Four Points, and has risen three positions in the brand strength index to become the strongest hotel brand globally, according to recent data from Brand Finance. The brand excelled in metrics such as familiarity, consideration, recommendation, and reputation, solidifying its dominant position in India’s hotel sector.
Employees at the Taj Mahal Hotel in New Delhi performed the Indian national anthem in Indian Sign Language to celebrate India’s 78th Independence Day on Aug. 15. The hotel shared the video on its social media accounts, extending Independence Day wishes to all Indians.
