Ratan Tata passed away late on 10th October at the age of 86. The former chairman of the Tata Group led the company for more than 20 years and had recently been in intensive care at a hospital in Mumbai.
In a statement, the company said, “It is with a profound sense of loss that we bid farewell to Mr. Ratan Naval Tata a truly uncommon leader whose immeasurable contributions have shaped not only the Tata Group but also the very fabric of our nation.”
The famous businessman was also known for his love of sports and his support for Indian cricketers and athletes. Many current and former cricketers received help from the Tata Group, including job opportunities, financial support and programs to promote sports in India.
Former cricketer Farokh Engineer got support from Tata Motors while Air India was key in the careers of players like Mohinder Amarnath, Sanjay Manjrekar, Robin Uthappa, and VVS Laxman. Additionally Indian Airlines, linked to the Tata Group, helped cricketers such as Javagal Srinath, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, and Mohammed Kaif.
Shardul Thakur received help from Tata Power, and Jayant Yadav was supported by Air India. Even Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector of the BCCI and a former player, got backing from Tata Steel, showing the big impact the Tata Group had on Indian cricket.
Ratan Tata was born on December 28, 1937, in Mumbai. He was the Chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, from 1991 until he retired in 2012. After retirement, he became the Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons.
He was also the Chairman of the Ratan Tata Trust and the Dorabji Tata Trust, two of India’s largest philanthropic trusts created by the private sector. He received the Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second-highest civilian award, in 2008.
