'I remember my grandmother used to have a very old Rolls Royce car. She used to send that car to pick up my brother and me from school. But both of us were so shy to sit in that car that we used to return home on foot.
Ratan Tata had told this story during an interview. He used to say that he always stayed away from speaking in public or taking part in extra-curricular activities. His simplicity always remained the hallmark of his life.
On October 9, Ratan Tata breathed his last at the age of 86. Ratan Tata, the owner of property worth Rs 3,800 crore, never compromised with his studies and work. At one time, it was said about Tata Group that if you buy any share of this company, it will only give profits.
Used to be embarrassed to go to school in a Rolls Royce
Ratan Tata was born on 28 December 1937 to Naval Tata and Sunu Tata. His parents divorced when he was just 10 years old. After this, Ratan and his brother Jimmy Tata were taken care of by their grandmother Nawazbai Tata.
During an interview, Ratan Tata, recalling an incident from his school days, had told that his grandmother used to send her luxury car to bring him from school, but he and his brother were shy to sit in that car in school. .
Ratan Tata with his grandmother Nawazbai Tata.
Could not overcome fear of shy nature throughout life
Ratan was the great-grandson of Jamsetji Tata, who founded the Tata Group. Born in such a big family, Ratan had a shy nature in school.
He used to say, 'One thing I have never been able to overcome is the fear of public speaking. In school, I neither spoke in assemblies nor participated in extra-curricular activities.
Picture from school days. Ratan Tata (left) with younger brother Jimmy Tata (right).
Completed studies from Mumbai, Shimla and New York
Ratan Tata did his early education from Campion School, Mumbai. He studied in this school only till 8th class. Then Ratan went to Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai for further studies.
Ratan, who always took his studies seriously, was sent to Bishop Cotton School, Shimla for higher education. In 1955, he moved to New York, where he graduated from Riverdale Country School.
Picture from the 60's. Ratan Tata during his youth.
Took architect and engineering degrees in 7 years
He always wanted to become an architect. However, his father Naval Tata wanted him to become an engineer. Due to this, at the age of 17, Ratan took admission in Cornell Call of Architecture of America's famous Cornell University. In 1962 he obtained B.Arch degree from here.
As per his father's wishes, Ratan obtained both engineering and architect degrees in a span of 7 years. During this time, due to his grandmother's ill health, he returned to India.
Ratan Tata (right) with his father Naval Tata (right) and brother Noel Tata (middle).
Tata had written in an article that my father and I were close and were not. I must say that like a father and son, perhaps our views also differed. However, my father hated confrontation.
Started career as an assistant
He started his career as an assistant. In 1962, he got a job offer in the group's originator company 'Tata Industries'. Got the responsibility of Machines Corps in 1977.
Ratan was successful in it, but could not find an investor and the company was closed in 1986. No one thought that Ratan Tata would ever become the successor of JRD Tata.
Became the first Indian to fly Falcon-16 jet in 2007
Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata was the owner of assets worth about Rs 3,800 crore. He often said that being an architect helped him become a wise business leader. However, only a handful got the chance to use this art. He also designed a house for his mother.
Ratan Tata disembarking from fighter jet Falcon 16 in 2007.
Airplanes, fast cars and scuba diving were his hobbies. Ratan Tata became the first Indian to pilot the F-16 Falcon jet in 2007.
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