Strongest advocate for employee well-being is no more; Ratan Tata passes away at 86!

At 86, Ratan Tata may have left this world, but he will live on forever in the hearts of his employees whom he loved with his entire being. While the entire nation grieves,  Maharashtra, which is in official mourning, is preparing for a state funeral for the childless business tycoon with a heart of gold.

Rarely do we see industrial tycoons choosing to ride in their car next to their driver. Not many billionaires are kind to abandoned pets and animals so much so that they consciously invest time and money in their welfare. Very few businessmen spoke up against layoffs during the pandemic, but Ratan Tata did all of this.

There are no words to describe the magnitude of the work this business leader and chairman emeritus of Tata Sons had done in terms of generating jobs, ensuring social empowerment and fuelling innovation.

Though his invaluable contribution has made the Tata Group a name to reckon with across the globe, the humble and large-hearted man did not amass much personal wealth. After all, he believed only in giving back to society and helping the less privileged lot. So yes, he amassed a lot of love from his employees and all those that he touched in innumerable ways, big and small, during his lifetime.

If it wasn’t for social media, Ratan Tata’s humility and love for his employees, both present and former would not have gone viral, for he himself shied away from the spotlight all his life.

About three years ago, the legend quietly travelled from Mumbai to Pune, just to check on a former employee who had been unwell for two years. Floored by Tata’s empathy and genuine affection, a resident of the same society as that ailing ex-employee posted about this ‘away from media glare’ visit on social media. That’s how the incident drew attention, and the entire world got a fair idea of just how much this legend of a man loved his employees.

Ratan Tata was known for his caring attitude towards stray dogs too. Thanks to him, the Tata Group headquarters in Mumbai has a section devoted solely to taking care of the strays in the area. A man who did so much for these canines obviously did a lot for his workforce, all of which cannot be described in a single article.

To well wishers who enquired after his health on social media, his last words of gratitude and reassurance were “Thank you for thinking of me”. It will suffice to say that it will be challenging to fill the shoes of this great man! HRKatha mourns the passing of this legend.