The Last Rajah : Ratan Tata

[Zappo]

In the last couple of years we have seen the leap of faith that Tatas took some 5 years back coming to fuition. Tatas are certainly wowing the world where it comes to audacity and boldness of conviction. What started off with a trickle has today turned into a gurgling stream of the tropical rain forests. And from the looks of it things can only get bigger and bolder in the days to come.

The man behind this face change for the group is of course Ratan Tata. He had enough conviction and fighting spirit in him to dream of this day and prepare the group for it. It was not sudden, nor was it easy. If anything the change was a painful and at times a very long-drawn game of patience and grit. And Tata is a fighter to the core. As he once said when faced by the militant unions that went on rampage in a Tata plant, "if you put a gun on my head then you had better take it off or else fire the gun. I am certainly not going to move my head". Needless to say he broke the back of the militant unions and restored normalcy.

Ratan is also philanthropist to the core. What the Tatas do to a city of Jamshedpur and its denizens numbering well over 70,000 when only a mere 20,000 are its employees is again something of a lesson in social responsibility for the corporate citizens of this world. Needless to say he is a Rajah... a benevolent king, probably the last of his kind.

But then what after he retires? Thats a chink that Ratan has not yet completely managed to mend. Its a thought provoking question...

You can read more here.

[hrag]

Not just Ratan Tata but also JRD and JN before him. Not to take away from Ratan Tata's achievements, of course.

To truly understand what Tata has done for the country and the Indian industry, one can read:
For the Love of India: The Life and Times of Jamsetji Tata
R M Lala, Penguin Books India
Beyond the Last Blue Mountain: A Life of J.R.D. Tata
R M Lala, Penguin Books India

Specifically with respect to Jamshedpur and Tata Steel,
The Romance of Tata Steel
R M Lala, Penguin Books India

But yes, the big question, who can lead the empire to greater heights? Noel Tata's name has come up a few times but that's about it.

Let's wait and see.

Edit: Great thread, Zappo.

[Zappo]

Definitely. The story began with the visionary Jamshetji whose contribution to India's Industrialization is unparalleled. JRD carried that legacy over and is an illuminary in his own rights. In comparison Ratan Tata was supposedly the unknown, reclusive nephew whose capabilities were supposedly a suspect till long.

However with the markets opening up and the challenges across the world threatening to overtake the markets Ratan realized the need for that sweeping change which to be truthful was never felt by his predecessors simply because the requirement was never there. However to see the future is one thing and then to plan for it and actually take it to that level where they can take the fight to the external markets needs something entirely different.

In that respect the BusinessWeek article was a real eye opener. Its heartening to note that the whole Tata group was totally worth some $12 billions in 2003 and today after just 5 years they are worth more than $50 billion dollars. Thats the hallmark of a leader.

[ECM]

read below old topic posted long back on JRD,
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shifti...-who-else.html (Those blue eyes always reminded me of the sky! JRD who else?)

[given2fly]

The whole stock market also helped to raise all Indian businesses based in India only to unprecedented values, most of which is arguable. But 'Sir' Ratan Tata did the opposite and took them everywhere on the globe. I truly admire his vision & his grit with which he carried irrespective of others opinion. And most certainly, it is my biggest privilage to share my birthday with such a visionary as Ratan Tata & D.B. Ambani.

[ravikn]

Few updates:
Ratan Tata has been selected for the Time magazine's 2008 list of the world's 100 most influential people

Sonia, Tata, Nooyi among Time's 100 most influential people- Hindustan Times

IISc Bangalore will honor Ratan Tata with Felloship. the news is in the below link
IISc Bangalore will honour Kalam, Tata, Swaminathan, Narasimha with Fellowship*INDIA*NEWS MyNews.in: