The Saintly Soul of Ratan Tata: A Personal Tribute

On October 9, 2024, the world's most renowned industrialist Sir Ratan N. Tata, who passed away at 86 years old in Mumbai, India. He was not only a great businessman but also a generous philanthropist in both human and animal welfare. I won’t delve into his history, achievements, or family background, as much has already been written and spoken about his personal and professional life. In this blog post, I will simply share my personal reflections on his life and how his death impacted me.

I have known of Mr. Ratan Tata since watching Indian TV on cable transmission back in Quetta, Pakistan, around 2004. I remember the Tata Salt, Tata Motors, and Tanishq ads. I also saw him on various sophisticated programs like Rendezvous with Simi Garewal. Without knowing too much about him at the time, I remember a decent man with salt-and-pepper hair and a kind smile. He gave off positive vibes—a perfect example of a true gentleman.

Life got busy after that. I got married, had kids, and moved to a new country. After all these years, one morning, while sipping my coffee, I scrolled through Facebook and Instagram, where I came across numerous reels showing that the former chairman of Tata Group had passed away. I still don’t know why it hit me so hard. It felt so personal that it suddenly turned my bright morning into one of silent and mournful day . The more I watched the reels and videos about him, the more this grief grew deeper in my heart.

I learned that this noble soul never married and had donated about 67% of his wealth to charities. This is astounding. At a time when most businesses are focused on outdoing each other and tricking people to rise to the top of billionaire lists, this man did business on moral grounds and still made good profits. His profits were used for the betterment of people. India is truly lucky to have had such a generous gem of a son.

His humility and modest mannerisms are another part of his personality that deeply resonated with me. How could the owner of multi-billion-dollar companies be so down-to-earth? In today’s world, we often see people with negative bank balances having attitude problems, but this man treated everyone with utmost respect and equality. I must say, he must have been raised by a queen—only a queen can raise such a gentle giant of a prince. When I dug deeper into his family background, I discovered that he was indeed raised by his grandmother, who was the daughter-in-law of India's pioneering Parsi industrialist Sir Jamsetji Tata. His grandmother, a woman of both brains and beauty, took on the responsibility of raising him after his parents’ divorce. She was an active figure in the business world and, interestingly, a trained horse rider at a time when women were often sheltered behind seven doors.

Another aspect of Sir Ratan Tata's life that made me reflect was his decision not to marry. According to him, he came close to getting married four times, but each time he backed off. It’s difficult to imagine how someone can live without a family or a significant other by their side. What’s more surprising is that, despite being one of the most eligible bachelors well into his later years, he was never involved in any scandals or affairs. How could such a handsome, witty, and gentle man remain single and live in solitude with his two dogs as his companions? I believe that a man who survives loneliness without being enticed by the beauty of a woman is either a God or a saint. To me, he was a saint. His personality—those smiling eyes, calm demeanor, and childlike innocence—exuded a saintly quality that made him stand out from ordinary men.

I don’t share the same nationality or religion as him, but I’m amazed at how deeply his death affected me. Perhaps it’s human nature to be drawn to goodness, regardless of its origin. And I’m not alone in this. Many people on social media have expressed that they felt a connection to him, as if someone from their own family had passed away. Perhaps this is God’s way of compensating for his loneliness and lack of immediate family. Though he had no wife or children to mourn him, people around the world—children, teenagers, mothers, wives, and men—are grieving his loss.

Lastly, I’d like to offer my tribute to this great man. Sir, you have gained one more admirer. You are now my inspiration, and your life has taught me new principles, with humility at the top of the list.

I wish you eternal peace, Sir. I hope you reunite with your beloved grandmother, your dearest pets, and all the loved ones awaiting you at the gates of heaven. I wish your gentle soul attains Nirvana. May your distinguished life serve as an example for many to follow. Farewell, legend. Sir Ratan N. Tata, you will be missed!