Indian industrialist Ratan Tata, who is credited with turning the Tata Group into a world-renowned conglomerate, has died at the age of 86, the company said.
Under Tata's leadership, the company grew into a major international enterprise with a portfolio ranging from software to sports cars.
"It is with a profound sense of loss that we bid farewell to Mr Ratan Naval Tata, a truly extraordinary leader whose immeasurable contribution shaped not only the Tata Group but the very fabric of our nation," company chairman N. K. N. Tata said in a statement. Chandrasekaran.
"I extend our condolences to his family. His legacy will continue to inspire us as we strive to uphold the principles he so passionately defended."
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Tata "a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being".
The Prime Minister praised Tata for providing "steady leadership to one of India's oldest and most prestigious business houses".
He said he was "extremely hurt" by Tata's demise and offered his condolences to Tata's friends and family, in a post on X.
Born in 1937 in Bombay, now Mumbai, Tata originally planned to become an architect and work in the US when his grandmother - who raised him - asked him to return home and join the growing family business.
He began working in 1962 at TISCO, now known as Tata, living in an apprentice dormitory and working in the shop near the blast furnaces.
He took over the family empire in 1991, on the crest of a wave of radical free-market reforms that India had just unleashed that year.
In the 21 years Tata has been at the helm, the salt and steel conglomerate has expanded its global footprint to include British luxury brands such as Jaguar and Land Rover.
The Tata Group said its charitable work had "touched the lives of millions".
"From education to healthcare, his initiatives have left a deep mark that will benefit generations to come," the company added.
In his statement, Modi said Tata's legacy extends far beyond the business world.
"His contribution goes far beyond the boardroom. He endeared himself to many through his humility, kindness and unwavering commitment to making our society better," the prime minister wrote, along with a photograph of the two men sitting side by side and smiling. | BGNES
