SOME GOODBYES SPELL GRATITUDE….MR RATAN TATA!

It was 1997 or 1998...

I had gone to Bombay House with two of my bosses and an American. The idea was to explore the possibility of one of our products being used in an engine, and thereby penetrate the corporate layer. Upon entering the building, I saw a board with the nameplates of some real bigwigs from the Tata conglomerate. I think it’s still there today: JRD, Ratan Tata, Nani Palkhivala, Rusi Modi, Darbari Seth, Ajit Kerkar, D.R. Pendse, Sumant Mulgaonkar... Every single name on that board was so awe-inspiring, it would have taken a crane to lift my jaw back in place. Just being on those hallowed grounds where these greats walked was a heady feeling.?

Our meeting was just about to begin when a lady rushed into our room and said in an apologetic tone, 'Excuse me, gentlemen, Mr. Ratan Tata wants to hold a meeting in this room. Could you please move to the next room?' Of course, we moved, but my eyes kept darting to that half-open door, hoping to catch a glimpse of the great Sir Ratan Tata. Our meeting ended, and as we were leaving, I was a bit dismayed that I hadn’t seen him. But just as we turned toward the elevators, guess who I saw? None other than the handsomely imposing figure of Sir Ratan Tata! I froze right where I was and offered a silent, heartfelt namaskar to him...?

By then, as Mr Ratan Tata became chairman of Tata Group in 1991, he started ruling my heart and brain. With time, the name of Sir Ratan Tata became almost a divine mantra for me. Of course, Sir JRD created plenty of power canters in his time, but he also nurtured people to be worthy of them, one of whom was Sir Ratan Tata. The cries of 'nepotism' had to rise from inconsequential bystanders, but Sir Ratan proved his mettle by streamlining all the sectors of the Tata empire into a cohesive value system and then went on to establish the Tata brand across the world. I have a feeling he had an extra-love corner for the automobile industry because, for that sector, he took some truly daring decisions. Just to name a few would be to launch the Tata Sumo, Safari, the India-centric Indica and Indigo cars in 1997-98, and then the trendsetting Nano in 2009. Who can forget the TATA Ace which has become big hit in those days. He also bought the Jaguar Land Rover brand and rejuvenated Tata Motors, putting Tata head and shoulders above the competition. The milestones are mind-boggling, to say the least! To round off this spectacular march, he took over Tetley Tea and Corus Steel, but reclaiming Air India was poetic justice in the truest sense. Now, with AirAsia and Vistara stakes added to its roster, Air India is all set to rule the international skies, undoubtedly!?

I know I am hopelessly unworthy of commenting on Tata’s social responsibilities, such are the heights they have reached with their social presence—and they will undoubtedly keep reaching higher. To be proud flagbearers of capitalism and yet have this deep-rooted commitment to social causes exemplifies the concept of ‘progressive capitalism,’ and the Tatas are a glowing example of it across the globe.

Every time my business partner says, ‘I swear by Tata,’ he succinctly sums up what this whole write-up is all about.

You gave us, dear Sir Ratan Tata, the entrepreneurial mantra of 'Capitalist by brain, socialist at heart.' Our contribution to this path may be ‘nano,’ but on behalf of the entire business fraternity, I promise you, Sir, we will do everything it takes to transcend the realms of business in order to better this world. To me, this would be a true homage to your legacy as we bid you farewell.

Heartfelt tribute to Sir Ratan Tata...????????"

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