Ratan Naval Tata passed away as gracefully as the life he lived.

Life of a businessman is generally reviewed in one of the following ways. The return on investment under one’s watch. Expansion of business empire in his tenure. Wealth created for himself and his family. But Tatas changed the notion of wealth creation fr0m the narrow confines of family to the larger social goods. It was a unique take on business. Ratan Tata inherited the rich legacy and carried it without fault.

But what is the mark he left behind as individual? 

As a businessman Ratan was pragmatic like others. While he facilitated expansion of businessman in new areas and territories, he also presided over large contracts with governments fr0m vehicles to Defence equipment and fr0m software to telecom. He was not averse to forging alliances with fellow businessman for better profits either.  He was not very different fr0m other fellow industrialists of India on that count.       

But what sets Ratan Tata apart fr0m his peers is that he refused to be black mailed on convictions dear to his heart. Three instances prove the point.

When he took the reins of Tatas, the group was a divided house. Tata flagship companies were controlled by powerful local chatraps. Russy Modi towered over Tata Steel, Darbari Seth over Tata Chemicals and Ajit Kerkar over Indian Hotels. Ratan’s vision was to unify hundreds of companies under one Tata brand: one brand, one logo. The move was bitterly contested and led to ugly battles. Ratan Tata stood by his vision and plan against mighty odds. Eventually, he prevailed and the motely group came under one umbrella. Unified policies including of age of Managing Directors and Chairmen were adopted across the group. The group companies for the first time were oriented towards shared goals and benefited immensely fr0m group synergies.

The second test of mettle came at Singur in West Bengal.  The Tata Nano plant sanctioned by the then Left front Government got caught in the cross hairs perpetrated by political rivalry. A reign of terror was unleashed against the plant and management. Ratan didn’t budge. He famously said that if someone put a gun on his head to force him to do something he didn’t want, he would not bend. Eventually instead of agreeing to the blackmail by the politically backed thugs, he moved the entire plant lock-stock-barrel, fr0m West Bengal to Gujarat.  (And in the process of dismantling and re-erection of the plant, innovative means were used which led to filing of scores of Patents by Tatas!).

Finally, one of the biggest challenges, came to him when he formally retired after having selected his successor, Cyrus Mistry. After watching him closely and observing that Mistry was going against the vision and principles of Tata Sons, he engineered an unprecedented coup to remove Mistry. He assumed leadership temporarily as Chairman emeritus and found a worthy successor fr0m within the group but an outsider of the Trusts- V. Srinivasan. It led to a leap.

When India’s most powerful and successful businessmen succumb to intimidation and blackmail by political groups or adversaries at the slightest of provocation, Rata Tata stood ground due to courage of his convictions. His conduct, his life and his accomplishments greatly enhanced image of entrepreneur in society. In these times of great upheaval, Ratan’s unwavering stand on his vision and beliefs will be remembered all the more. May he rest in everlasting peace and joy with Thee.