Ratan Tata cremated with state honours, thousands pay tribute

MUMBAI: Industrialist Ratan Naval Tata was cremated with full state honours at a Mumbai crematorium this afternoon.

Several high-level dignitaries, including Home Minister Amit Shah, were present to pay their last respects to Mr Tata; he will be replacing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is travelling to Laos to attend the ASEAN-India and East Asia Summits. Mr Modi last night described Mr Tata as “an extraordinary human being”.

Mr Shah was accompanied by Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy chief ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar.

Earlier today, Ratan Tata was draped in the national flag and taken to the National Centre for Performing Arts at Nariman Point before his body was taken to the cremation ground at Worli, 12 kilometres away.

Thousands of people thronged the streets to bid a final farewell to one of their own, the Mumbai-born and bred ‘Chhotu’ who transformed the Tata brand into a global powerhouse.

And along with the country’s most powerful politicians, the country’s most influential celebrities – actors and sportspersons – and the country’s richest including the Ambanis and Adanis also turned up to pay their tributes.

Maharashtra has announced a day of mourning in honour of a business leader and philanthropist who is admired in India and abroad for his simplicity, honesty and humanity.

Ratan Tata’s contributions to the industrial and development sectors, the economy and the lives of thousands of men and women are incalculable.

Some, perhaps, are worth mentioning, such as his ‘revenge’ purchase of luxury brands Jaguar and Land Rover, which announced India’s arrival on the global automotive stage, and his commitment to the welfare of dogs, exemplified by his ₹165 crore hospital in Mumbai.

But his death undoubtedly marks the end of an era; he was, perhaps, the last of his kind who, despite fabulous privilege, never flaunted his wealth.

In fact, Mr Tata could never have been found on the billionaires’ list, as he gave away most of his income – 60 to 65 per cent if some sources are to be believed.

The End

Ratan Tata died late last night at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital, aged 86.

He was admitted on Monday, but, as was his nature, played down any commotion, saying he was undergoing routine age-related medical check-ups. “Nothing to worry about. Thank you for thinking of me…”

Hours later, just as quietly and carefully, the Tata family broke the news.

“We bid farewell with great loss to Mr Ratan Naval Tata, a truly extraordinary leader whose incomparable contributions have shaped not just the Tata Group but also the fabric of our nation,” said group chairman N Chandrasekaran.

As the news spread, there was an outpouring of grief that underlined Mr Tata’s stature, but it was a fellow industrial tycoon, Anand Mahindra, who best expressed the sentiments of 1.45 billion Indians.

“I am unable to accept this…” he said.