&w=1024&resize=1024,0&ssl=1 "Politicians to film stars: who will say goodbye to Ratan Tata? Company news")
Industrialists, politicians, film stars, Tata Group employees, friends, family members and admirers – thousands – lined up at the National Center of Performing Arts (NCPA) at Nariman Point 86 since Thursday morning to pay their last respects to Ratan Tata. The patriarch and retired CEO of the software company died on Wednesday evening at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai, where he was admitted early Monday morning.
Crowds began gathering outside the hospital on Wednesday evening as news spread that Tata, whose last name is widely known, was in critical condition in the intensive care unit. Soon after the Tata group made the announcement late last night, tributes started pouring in from across the country and the world. Leaders and businessmen spoke of Dad's intelligence because of his worldview, generosity, contributions outside the boardroom and love of dogs. There were questions in TV studios and newsrooms about the legacy and the next chapter of the Tata empire. The big question was whether Noel Tata, Trent's chairman and half-brother of Ratan Tata, would be chosen to head the Tata Trust, which owns 66 percent of Tata Sons. However, it was a day to mourn the death of a titan who led India's largest corporate group for over two decades, and to celebrate the legacy he left behind.
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As the final journey began, from his home in Colaba to the NCPA in Nariman Point, Tata's body – wearing a tricolor apron – was escorted by a Mumbai police party. The cremation took place with full state honors and a gun salute at the Worli crematorium in Mumbai. As the VVIPs gathered there to pay their respects, moments later the gates of the crematorium were opened to hundreds of elated workers amid Tata slogans.
Home Minister Amit Shah represented the central government at the funeral while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on an official visit to Laos. Laying wreaths, Shah said he joined millions of Indians in mourning the tragic death of Ratan Tata.
“Tata led the Tata Group with clean corporate governance, abiding by principles and striving to build a better society through Tata Trusts. Ratan Tata ji's legacy will guide those leading the country's industrial sector for a long time to come,” Shah said.
Earlier in the evening, the Prime Minister said in a statement that Tata was a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being.
Among those present at Tata's funeral were Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das. Industry captains including Mukesh Ambani, Kumar Mangalam Birla and Adi Godrej were also there. Tata Sons chairman N. Chandrasekaran and Noel Tata were seen interacting with dignitaries. Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, film star Aamir Khan and director Madhur Bhandarkar also joined to pay their respects.
Former Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry was cremated in September 2022 at the same crematorium. Ratan Tata and Mistry
A fierce legal battle ensued, culminating in the Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Tatas. Shapoorji Mistry, chairman of SP Group, which holds 18.4 per cent stake in Tata Sons, said on Thursday that the Mistry family has a long-standing relationship with the Tata Group and Ratan Tata. “Dad's unfortunate passing marks the end of an era. He will always be remembered as a leader who left an indelible mark in the evolution of the Tata Group,” he said.
As the Maharashtra government declared a day of mourning on Thursday, the national flag was flown at half-mast on all government buildings in the state. On the day when the world saw the end of an era, Maharashtra Chief Minister Shinde asked the Center to posthumously award Tata with India's highest civilian award 'Bharat Ratna'.
In his latest social media post on Monday, in response to media reports that he was seriously ill and had been admitted to the Breach Candy ICU, Ratan Tata assured the nation that he had been visiting the hospital for regular check-ups. “Thank you for thinking of me,” he said. During the week, his fans thanked Dad and said goodbye to him.
(He) played a key role in mentoring and developing modern business leadership in India.
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