Nation bids emotional farewell to ‘beloved’ industrialist Ratan Tata, tributes pour in

MUMBAI: From political leaders to business titans to the film and cricketing fraternity, the entire nation mourned the death of veteran and the most beloved industrialist Ratan Tata, who passed away on October 9, leaving behind a legacy that will be cherished forever.

The final rites of Ratan Tata were held on Thursday evening with full state honours at Worli Crematorium in Mumbai. In a notable gesture, his stepmother Simone Tata and close aide Shantanu Naidu also attended the last rites ceremony. Ratan Tata’s adopted stray dog ‘Goa’ was also brought to pay last respects to Tata.

#WATCH | Mumbai | Mortal remains of veteran industrialist Ratan N Tata kept at NCPA lawns for the public to pay their last respects pic.twitter.com/9YlcsHgo1u

— ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2024

Tributes have poured in from several leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Chief Ministers of almost every state. In a series of posts on X, PM Modi said he was “extremely pained” by Ratan Tata’s passing away and highlighted his leadership and contributions to society.

“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 contribution went far beyond the boardroom. He endeared himself to several people thanks to his humility, kindness and an unwavering commitment to making our society better”, PM Modi wrote on X.

“Extremely pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family, friends and admirers in this sad hour. Om Shanti”, PM Modi said in the post.

#WATCH | Last rites of veteran industrialist Ratan Tata, being performed with state honour at Worli crematorium in Mumbai pic.twitter.com/08G7gnahyS

— ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2024

Union Minister Amit Shah attended the last rituals of the veteran industrialist on behalf of the Government of India. He took to X and said the nation will always cherish his legacy as a visionary business leader, a philanthropist, and a committed patriot. “Paid last respects to Ratan Tata Ji in Mumbai. The nation will always cherish his legacy as a visionary business leader, a philanthropist, and a committed patriot,” Shah said.

Apart from him, Union Minister Piyush Goyal and Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and other leaders were in attendance at the Worli crematorium.

#WATCH | Jimmy Naval Tata, brother of Industrialist Ratan Tata leaves after paying last tributes to Ratan Tata in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/VLKl2pCgmV

— ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2024

Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi took to X and offered his condolences on the demise of Ratan Tata. “Ratan Tata was a man with a vision. He has left a lasting mark on both business and philanthropy. My condolences to his family and the Tata community”, he said.

Describing Ratan Tata’s demise as a “huge loss” for the entire nation, businessman and his close companion, Niranjan Hiranandani expressed deep sorrow. He said, “The nation mourns a great leader, a visionary, an industrialist, a charitable person, but more than all, the great success of the Tata empire, which has grown by leaps and bounds”.

#WATCH | Mumbai | “There won’t be another Ratan Tata…Every Indian is impacted today…,” says Suhel Seth, the close aide of veteran industrialist Ratan Tata, as he tears up while giving an emotional tribute to him

He says, “I would remember him as a human being of great… pic.twitter.com/4y8t397Gio

— ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2024

Describing it as a “sad day for India,” Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Ratan Tata and said that the passing of Ratan Tata filled him with “immense grief”. In a post on X, the Reliance Industries Chairman remembered Tata as a visionary industrialist, philanthropist, and dear friend and extended heartfelt condolences to the Tata family and the entire Tata Group.

Adani Group founder and chairman Gautam Adani offered condolences on the demise of industrialist Ratan Tata and said that India has lost “a giant, a visionary”. In his tributes to the veteran industrialist, Gautam Adani, in a post on X, said, “India has lost a giant, a visionary who redefined modern India’s path. Ratan Tata wasn’t just a business leader — he embodied the spirit of India with integrity, compassion and an unwavering commitment to the greater good. Legends like him never fade away. Om Shanti”.

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka | On the demise of Ratan Tata, author-philanthropist and Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty says, “… In my life, I met him (Ratan Tata), a man of integrity, and simplicity, always caring for others and compassionate… I really miss him… I don’t think in… pic.twitter.com/hDb6Qbfhau

— ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2024

Penning a heartfelt note, Sunil Bharti Mittal said, “I’m deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Ratan Tata. He leaves behind an astronomical imprint on the Indian industry, philanthropy and the perennial zest to better the world we live in”.

The mortal remains of the beloved figure were kept at the lawns of the NCPA at Nariman Point in Mumbai till 4 pm on Thursday for the masses to pay their last respects. A huge throng of people gathered at the NCPA lawns to pay their last respects. Gujarat and Maharashtra government declared one-day of mourning in respect of Ratan Tata on Thursday. The national flag was be flown at half-mast and no cultural or entertainment programme of the government were held.

#WATCH | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: People pay tributes to veteran industrialist Ratan Tata during the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat.

Ratan Tata passed away last night at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital at the age of 86.

Visuals Source: Ganga Sewa Nidhi pic.twitter.com/WsVXVUubcP

— ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2024

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Cabinet-led by CM Shinde passed a resolution, urging the Centre to confer country’s highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna to esteemed personality Ratan Tata in recognition of his achievements.

Ratan Tata, born on December 28, 1937, in Mumbai, was the chairman of Ratan Tata Trust and Dorabji Tata Trust, two of the largest private-sector-promoted philanthropic trusts in India. He was the chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, from 1991 until his retirement in 2012.

Then he was appointed chairman emeritus of Tata Sons. He was honoured with the country’s second-highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, in 2008. (ANI)