Ratan Tata Family Tree: Forefathers, Parents, Family, Biography, Career, Philanthropy Explored

Ratan Tata, born on December 28th, 1937 in Bombay, is the son of Naval Tata and Sooni Commissariat. Unfortunately, his parents separated when he was ten years old.

Later, he was legally adopted by his grandmother, Navajbai Tata, who was the widow of Sir Ratanji Tata, through the J. N. Petit Parsi Orphanage. Ratan Tata was brought up with his half-brother, Noel Tata, who was the son of Naval Tata and Simone Tata.

Ratan Tata received his education from renowned institutions such as the Campion School, Cathedral and John Connon School, Bishop Cotton School, and Riverdale Country School. He pursued degrees in business administration from Cornell University and Harvard Business School.

Currently 84 years old, Ratan Tata has left an indelible mark on the Indian business landscape. He served as the Chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, for over two decades. During his tenure, he transformed the Tata Group from a primarily India-centric company to a global conglomerate. He also initiated several philanthropic efforts through the Tata Trusts, focusing on areas such as education, healthcare, and rural development.

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Jamsetji nusserwanji tata (3 March 1839 — 19 May 1904)

Jamsetji Tata, the esteemed founder of the Tata Group, is renowned for his contributions to India’s industrialization. His vision and philanthropic principles played a crucial role in shaping the extraordinary business conglomerate that now operates 31 companies in ten industries worldwide. Jamsetji’s dedication to lifting India out of poverty was driven by his belief that the country’s brightest minds should be mobilized for this purpose.^[1]tfipost

Jamsetji nusserwanji tata

Rather than relying on handouts or donations, Jamsetji established the JN Tata Endowment in 1892. This was Tata’s first foray into benevolence in the field of education and was probably the world’s first of its kind. Jamsetji Nasrwanji Tata invested in India’s youth and the future of a post-colonial nation by creating the JN Tata Endowment, which supported the higher education of Indians.

The Tata family’s first philanthropic initiative allowed Indian students to pursue higher studies abroad, regardless of their caste or creed. Since its inception, the JN Tata Endowment has provided support to numerous generations of promising minds in the country.

Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s former Prime Minister, referred to Jamsetji Tata as the “one-man planning commission” of the industry. However, Jamsetji’s legacy extends far beyond his business acumen. He was a patriot and humanitarian who believed that education was the key to breaking the cycle of poverty in India.

Sir dorabji tata (27 August 1859 – 3 June 1932)

Sir Dorabji Tata, the firstborn of the visionary Jamsetji Tata, was not just a business magnate, but also a philanthropist, inheriting his father’s spirit of selflessness and giving back to society.

In 1909, Sir Dorabji Tata established the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, contributing to the institute in 1912. He believed in the importance of science education and research for India’s development.^[2]britannica

Sir dorabji tata

Moreover, Sir Dorabji Tata was also a sports enthusiast and believed in the power of sports to bring people together. In 1919, he sponsored four athletes and two wrestlers to participate in the Antwerp Games, thereby supporting the growth of sports in India.

Sir nowroji saklatwala (10 September 1875 – 21 July 1938)

Sir Nowroji Saklatwala  hailed from a family that had made a name for itself in the industrial sphere, not just in India but globally. Despite being connected to Sir Jamsetji Tata through his mother, he started his career as an apprentice in one of the Tata mills, earning a salary of Rs 50 per month. However, due to his hard work and determination, he quickly rose through the ranks and was soon promoted to manage the mills department.

Sir Nowroji’s exceptional work in the mills department and his deep understanding of the industry quickly garnered him a reputation, leading to his appointment as the chairman of the Bombay Millowners’ Association in 1917. Even though he had long stopped wearing his workman’s shirt, he was still seen as an invaluable asset due to his willingness to speak his mind and take on responsibilities.

Sir nowroji saklatwala

It was no surprise when he was chosen to lead the Tata Group after Sir Dorabji passed away in 1932. Sir Nowroji continued to build on the legacy left behind by Sir Dorabji and helped the Tata Group expand its business interests further. His dedication and contribution to the Indian industry were acknowledged when he was knighted in 1933.

J.R.D tata (29 July 1904 – 29 November 1993)

Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata, commonly known as J.R.D Tata, was an Indian entrepreneur and aviation pioneer who established India’s first airline and oversaw the dramatic expansion of the Tata Group, India’s largest industrial empire.

After his father’s passing, Tata assumed his position as the head of Tata Sons, the group’s flagship company. In 1929, he gave up his French citizenship and became one of the first Indians to acquire a commercial pilot license.

J.R.D tata

Over the next fifty years, Tata strengthened existing businesses such as steel, power, and hotels while also diversifying the group’s interests to include materials, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, financial services, and information technology (IT).

Under his leadership, several institutions were established to promote intellectual, medical, and artistic pursuits in India, including the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Tata Memorial Hospital, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, the National Institute of Advanced Sciences, and the National Centre for the Performing Arts.

Tata was an early advocate of family planning and in 1971, he founded the Family Planning Foundation. He received numerous accolades, including the Padma Vibhushan (1957), the Daniel Guggenheim Medal for aviation (1988), and the United Nations Population Award (1992).

In 1992, he was honored with India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, for his contributions to Indian industry and society.

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Ratan N. tata (born 28 December 1937)

Ratan N. Tata, born on December 28th, 1937, held the position of Chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, for more than two decades, from 1991 to 2012, succeeding his predecessor, JRD Tata. During his tenure, he not only oversaw the growth and development of Tata Sons but also had a significant impact on India’s business landscape.

Ratan Tata

Apart from his role as the Chairman of Tata Sons, Mr. Tata is also associated with numerous businesses in India and abroad. He has been instrumental in promoting philanthropy through his leadership as the Chairman of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust and the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, two of India’s largest private-sector-promoted philanthropic trusts. He has also served as the Chairman of the Council of Management at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and sits on the board of trustees at Cornell University and the University of Southern California.

Mr. Tata initiated the Tata-Cornell Institute for Agriculture and Nutrition, which is a long-term research initiative that focuses on designing and evaluating advanced interventions that connect agriculture, food processes, individual nutrition, and poverty in India. This research initiative has the potential to transform the way agriculture is practiced and contribute significantly to alleviating malnutrition and poverty in the country.

In recognition of his contribution to the business and philanthropic landscape, Mr. Tata has been honored with several awards and accolades. In 2008, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award by the Government of India. He was also appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire and was conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Rockefeller Foundation.

Ratan Tata: Personal Information

Ratan Tata

Ratan Tata: A Remarkable Career

When JRD Tata resigned from his position as the chairperson of Tata Sons in 1991, he chose Ratan Tata as his successor. However, his decision was not welcomed by the heads of various enterprises who had been running their companies for decades.

Despite opposition, Tata introduced a mandatory retirement age for employees and required every company to report their activities to the group office. He also integrated Tata Sons’ numerous enterprises into a cohesive whole, eliminating overlaps between them. Under his leadership, the company’s revenues increased by more than 40 times, and its profits increased by more than 50 times during his 21 years as chairman.

Ratan Tata At The Launch Event Of Tata Nano (Source: britannica)

Tata’s notable achievements during his tenure included the acquisition of Tetley by Tata Tea, the acquisition of Jaguar Land Rover by Tata Motors, and the acquisition of Corus by Tata Steel. These acquisitions enabled the company to shift from being primarily focused on India to becoming a global enterprise.

In addition, Tata is credited with the conception of the Tata Nano automobile, which was priced to be affordable for the average Indian buyer. In 2012, Ratan Tata retired from his position as chairman of Tata Sons, as he had reached the age of 75.

After Cyrus Mistry was removed from his position as chairman of the company, Ratan Tata became the group’s interim chairman in 2016. A selection committee that included Ratan Tata, Venu Srinivasan, Amit Chandra, Ronen Sen, and Lord Kumar Bhattacharya was established to determine Ratan Tata’s successor. The committee ultimately chose Natarajan Chandrasekaran as the new chairperson of Tata Sons in 2017.

Apart from his contributions to Tata Sons, Ratan Tata also invested his life savings into several online marketplaces, such as Snapdeal, Teabox, and CashKaro.com. He also invested in companies such as Ola Cabs, Xiaomi, Nestaway, and Dogspot.

Ratan Tata: Philanthropy

Ratan Tata is known for his philanthropic efforts in various fields such as education, medicine, and rural development. One notable example is his contribution to the University of New South Wales Faculty of Engineering, where he provided funding to improve water access for struggling communities.

Ratan Tata awarded an Honorary Degree of Enterprise for One of India’s most famous philanthropists

Another example is the Tata Scholarship Fund, which was endowed with $28 million by the Tata Education and Development Trust to provide financial assistance to undergraduate students from India at Cornell University. This scholarship fund supports about twenty students annually.

In 2010, the Tata Group and affiliated charities donated $50 million to the Harvard Business School to build an executive center. Additionally, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) donated $35 million to Carnegie Mellon University to establish the TCS Hall, a research facility for cognitive systems and autonomous cars.

The Tata Group also made significant contributions to Indian educational institutions. For example, the group donated Rs. 950 million to the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay to establish the Tata Center for Technology and Design, and granted 750 million rupees to the Centre for Neuroscience at the Indian Institute of Science to support research on Alzheimer’s disease.

Finally, the Tata Group established the MIT Tata Center of Technology and Design at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to tackle resource constraints faced by communities, with a particular focus on India. Overall, Ratan Tata’s philanthropy has had a positive impact on education, healthcare, and technology in India and beyond.

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