Ratan Naval Tata, legendary business tycoon, philanthropist, and Tata Sons Emeritus Chairman who was one of the instrumentalists in independent India’s growth history, breathed his last on the night of October 9 at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. He was 86. Ratan Tata’s passing was announced by Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran. Ratan Tata was admitted to the hospital after his blood pressure levels dropped suddenly. He was later shifted to the ICU following a sudden deterioration in his health.

Ratan Tata took over the reigns of the 100-year-old Tata Sons as its Chairman in 1992 and headed the $165 billion steel-to-software conglomerate till 2012. Tata Teleservices, one of India’s iconic milestones in India’s telecommunications sector, was founded by Ratan Tata in 1996. In 2004, he made another landmark move by taking the IT giant Tata Consultancy Services public. Ratan Tata’s achievements, humility, and philanthropic activities have inspired millions of Indians over the years.

Incidentally, soon after his hospitalization, Ratan Tata’s took to X and urged everyone to not believe in the rumors regarding his health and assured everyone that he was undergoing medical check-ups due to age-related medical conditions.

Ratan Tata was honored by the Indian government with the country’s third highest civilian award, Padma Bhushan (2000), and the second highest civilian award, Padma Vibhushan (2008). Condolences and tributes are pouring in from all quarters of the world for one of the country’s greatest visionaries.