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Ratan Tata, honorary former chairman of the Tata Trusts passed away in Mumbai on 9th October 2024. He is remembered not just for spreading Tata’s business but also for his simple life and kindness.
The respect Ratan Tata earned in the hearts of ordinary people is unmatched in the industry. Various instances of his humbleness and simplicity are known to people. But very few must be aware of these stories of his life like how he used to answer his own home phone or stood in line at airports, carried his own luggage.
Even business people with smaller reputations than Tata have secretaries to answer their phone calls, but Tata personally answered any call that came to his home’s public number.
When Ratan Tata became chairman in 1991, he was allotted Mumbai’s Tata Chairman bungalow (previously occupied by Bharat Ratna JRD Tata), but he continued to live in his modest two-room flat in Colaba for decades. Only around five or six years ago, due to age, he moved into a bungalow he built for himself.
His Colaba flat was furnished but the most expensive item was a Bose music system. He owned only the basics, without any extravagant Indian or foreign items.
Minister Nitin Gadkari recalled Tata lifting his own luggage at Aurangabad airport, refusing help despite being welcomed by officials.
Even though, as Air India Chairman, he could drive his car up to the aircraft, he always traveled like a regular passenger.
His suits were stitched by a local tailor in Colaba, not by foreign brands or designers.
Once, in Zodiac Grill restaurant at Taj Hotel with Shailesh Kottari and a media group head, Tata paid the bill himself with a card. On being asked why his own hotel gave him a bill, he responded, “How else can corporate standards be set? You have to set an example.”
Often during dinners at restaurants, the manager would return his car keys mid-way. He explained to Shailesh Kottari that he prefers his driver not work overtime so the driver can spend time with family. After dinner, Tata drove himself home.
Nitin Gadkari recounted how Tata called for directions to his home and said he was driving himself, alone, with no driver or security.
Uttar Pradesh minister and former IPS officer Aseem Arun remembered Tata checking into a regular room at Taj Mansingh rather than a suite, traveling with just a driver, and refusing police pilot car escort.
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