Ratan Tata Passes Away: Timeline of the Stalwart's Life

Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, passed away on October 9 in Mumbai. The news of his death was confirmed by N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons.

In a statement, Chandrasekaran mentioned, "On behalf of the entire Tata family, I extend our deepest condolences to his loved ones. His legacy will continue to inspire us as we strive to uphold the principles he so passionately championed."

Tata who was known for his philanthropy, received several awards in his life that includes the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008, These are India's second and third highest civilian honors. Additionally, under his leadership, Tata group became an international conglomerate. Tata, who served as chairman from 1991 to 2012, oversaw the Group's revenue growth from $5.7 billion to nearly $100 billion during that period.

Here’s a glimpse into the timeline of his life:

1937: Ratan is born to Soonoo and Naval Tata in Bombay

1955: He leaves for Cornell University to study architecture and engineering for seven years

1962: He joins Tata Group as part of Tata Industries and goes on to spend some time at Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company (now Tata Motors)

1963: He joins Tata Iron and Steel Company (Tisco)

1965: Tisco appoints Ratan Tata as technical officer in its engineering division

1970: He joins Tata Consultancy Services after retruning from Australia for a brief stint

1974: He becomes Director on the board of Tata Sons

1981: He takes over as Chairman of Tata Industries where he transformed it into a promoter of high technology

1983: He creates the strategic plan of Tata Group

1986: He becomes Chairman of national carrier Air India

1991: He succeeds JRD Tata as Chairman of Tata Sons and Tata Trusts

2008: Government of India awards him Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour

2012: He steps down as Chairman of Tata Sons and becomes Chairman Emeritus of the firm

2024: He passes away in a Mumbai hospital on October 9