The soft side of Ratan Tata: a dog lover, focused on kids’ nutrition and grounded billionaire | Mumbai News

The soft side of Ratan Tata: a dog lover, focused on kids’ nutrition and grounded billionaire | Mumbai News

Goa — a stray dog who became Ratan Tata’s self-admittedly favourite office companion — was among the hundreds and thousands of visitors who paid their last respects to the late industrialist and philanthropist at NCPA, Nariman Point. Tata’s profound love and empathy for dogs is well-documented. He not only advocated for animal welfare but also instructed the staff at Bombay House, the head office of Tata Group, to allow strays to roam freely, making it the only conglomerate’s headquarters to do so.

His struggle to find advanced care for one of his injured dogs led to the birth of Small Animal Hospital Mumbai (SAHM) earlier this year. He also utilised Tata Trust platform to focus on the nutrition needs of newly born and the unborn children as he felt “if we can take care of our children, we will take care of future generations”, according to a former senior official at Tata Trust.

“He refurbished and strengthened the Anganwadi so that they could cater to to-be-mothers and lactating mothers because he felt the good nutrition for these mothers and their children would bring the generational change,” he told The Indian Express.

Chemical engineer and former Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Raghunath Mashelkar called the demise of Ratan Tata “end of an era”.

Going down memory lane, he shared on X (formerly Twitter), “A poor boy, who was studying under street lights and walked barefoot until he was 12, is obliged to House of Tatas for a six-year scholarship of Rs 60 per month, which enabled him to continue his studies.”

Festive offer

A Padmabhushan awardee, Mashelkar added, “Who would have imagined that in years to come Ratan Tata and that poor Tata scholar will share three major national & international honours — Padmabhushan (2000), First National Leadership Award (2003) and Fellowship of American Academy of Arts & Science (2010).”

Recalling a “humbling” experience, Girish Mahajan, Minister of Rural Development, shared with The Indian Express that some months ago, he had a meeting scheduled with Ratan Tata regarding SAHM. “I reached five minutes early. He sent his PA to apologise and inform me that he was running late by three minutes. Later when he came, he profusely apologised for being late, treated me with a lot of regard, and even stepped out to walk me to the lift. It was such a humbling experience.”

Mumbai-based academician and entrepreneur Dr Rehan Ansari recalled his meeting with the industrialist in 2005. “My friends and I were in Alibaug when we saw Ratan Tata on the beach with his dog. We reached out to him, expressing our interest in meeting him, he borrowed pen and paper from a golawala and gave us his secretary’s number,” he said adding a meeting was later scheduled at Taj President.

“We were a bunch of five youngsters fresh out of management college. There are many industrialists but who takes out time to meet the youngsters, listens to them and answers their questions,” said Ansari.

Among this bunch of friends were Cafe Mysore’s Naresh Nayak who shared with The Indian Express copies of letters issued from Ratan Tata’s office in 2005 and 2006 carrying his signature, expressing his pleasure of meeting them and welcoming them to schedule another meeting.

His legacy wasn’t limited to what he said and did but also how he led by example. Chef, nutritionist and digital creator Aathira Sethumadhavan took to Instagram to share that despite having 9.99 CGPA and technical know-how, she was rejected in the final interview rounds of her campus placement because she was fat and her “overall physique and stature” didn’t suit their company. These incidents made her feel so dejected when Taj Hotels asked her to come over for an interview.

“I still remember how different the selection and interview process was. It was with the top management of the company and I couldn’t believe how good I was made to feel, versus how I felt in any of the interviews before,” she shared, adding that she started her career at 21 with Taj Hotels.

“And realised immediately that the entire culture was built on the foundation and legacy Mr Tata and his forefathers had created. We were made to feel like we belonged,” she said, sharing how Ratan Tata would meet and greet everyone when he visited the hotel, be it any staff member or a guest.

“Ever polite, warmly shaking everyone’s hands, more than willing to pose for endless selfies. The kindness, patience and affection. Unmatched,” she added.

Navy veteran Ajay Vadakkath recalls the incident when his team of four young divers and duty chief recovered a body from a drowning incident near Gateway and had to inform the Maritime Operations Room. “I walked up to the front desk at Taj and asked if I could make a phone call. The lady at the desk was most helpful in getting the call through and just before it was connected, she asked me how many members were in the team. Six, I replied, including our driver,” he wrote on Facebook, adding that as he finished making the report, she asked if they could wait a little longer because they were arranging the refreshments for them. The hotel staff were privy to the accident that happened outside.

“They did not have to do any of it, but it was what they did – it is what they do. The only explanation is that it has to do with the leadership and values that were enunciated and demonstrated from the top. Farewell Mr Ratan T… and a host of angels take thee to thy rest,” he added.


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