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“Learned philanthropy in Tata household”: Sudha Murthy remembers Ratan Tata
Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murthy described Ratan Tata as a “simple person”, saying his demise is a personal loss for her.
Author-philanthropist and Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murthy on Thursday paid tributes to noted industrialist Ratan Tata, saying his demise marks the “end of an era”, adding that she “feels a void in her personal life.”
“…In my life, I met him (Ratan Tata), a man of integrity and simplicity, always caring and kind to others… I miss him a lot… I don’t think I have met anyone like him in my experience. I only pray that his soul rests in peace. He was a great man, an era, but it is the end of an era for me,” Murthy told ANI.
Read | Ratan Tata to be cremated with full state honours, Maharashtra declares day of mourning
Murthy said Tata was a “man of integrity”, which was very important.
“That’s how he was. He had a lot of patience. He was a simple man… I learnt about philanthropy in the Tata household. It is my personal loss… I feel a void in my personal life now,” she said.
Ratan Tata, 86, chairman emeritus of Tata Sons and philanthropist, died on October 9 at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital.
He was admitted to the hospital in a critical condition, according to reports.
“It is with great loss that we bid farewell to Shri Ratan Naval Tata, a truly extraordinary leader whose incomparable contributions have shaped not only the Tata Group but also the fabric of our nation,” Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Tata.
Read | National icon Ratan Tata dies at 86
The president said the country has “lost an icon who combined corporate growth with nation-building and excellence with ethics.”
Expressing condolences to his family and the entire team of Tata Group, he said Tata’s contribution in the field of philanthropy and charity is “invaluable”.
Read | “Thank you for thinking of me”: Ratan Tata’s last social media post
Prime Minister Modi also expressed his condolences on Tata’s demise and said he was “a visionary business leader, a kind soul and an extraordinary human being”.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday announced that Tata will be cremated with full state honours.
Prime Minister Modi has left for Laos to attend the ASEAN-India and East Asia Summits, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah will attend the late billionaire industrialist’s funeral.
Read | From Tetley Tea to BigBasket: Tata Group’s greatest achievements under Ratan Tata’s leadership
