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The growth of Tata Group gathered more pace with a string of high profile acquisitions. Tata

also ventured into the DTH television business by launching Tata Sky, one of the biggest in
the television network distribution space.

To make cars affordable for the common man in India, Ratan Tata

launched Tata Nano, at a price of `1 lakh.
In 2008, Ratan Tata received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second

highest civilian award. In December 2012, Ratan Tata stepped down
as the chairman of Tata Sons, after 50 years with the Tata Group.

Ratan Tata bought the airline, Air India from the Indian

government in 2022.

Ratan Tata, besides entrepreneurship was greatly admired
for his philanthropic interests, which included supporting research and improvements in
education, medicine and rural development. He established hospitals that helped cancer

patients with advanced treatment and care.

Ratan Tata was known for his love of animals, dogs in particular. In
2018, he dropped out of an event in his honour that was to be hosted
by Prince Charles, at Buckingham Palace, London. Tata, who was to

receive an award for lifetime achievement, opted to cancel his trip
when his pet dog fell sick some days before the event.

Tata advocated for animal welfare all his life. He ensured that stray

dogs had access to food and shelter at the premises of Bombay
House, the Tata Group’s headquarters. He also instructed the staff
of Taj Hotel, Mumbai, a part of the Tata Group to feed all the stray

dogs that roamed around there. Among his many furry companions
was Goa, a stray adopted from Goa.

Ratan Tata’s final project was a state-of-the art animal hospital providing round the clock

emergency care in Mumbai, inaugurated in mid-2024.
Ratan Tata was often seen in the company of a young

entrepreneur, named Shantanu Naidu. The two shared a
great love for stray animals. Ratan Tata funded the boy’s

ventures and even made him his assistant. Shantanu
is now the youngest person to manage the Tata Trust.
When Ratan Tata passed away on 9 October, 2024, the

whole nation mourned his loss.

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