‘Anybody who met Mr Tata…’: Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran Shares Rare Insights on Ratan Tata

Days after the demise of Ratan Tata, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran on Monday penned down moments with the former Tata Sons chairman and said anybody who met Rata Tata came away with a story about his humanity, warmth, and dreams for India. There really was no one like him.

Tata, who remained the Chairman Emeritus of the sprawling salt-to-software conglomerate till his death, breathed his last at Breach Candy Hospital in south Mumbai at 11:30 pm on October 9. He was put under intensive care on October 7. Ratan Tata was laid to rest on October 10 with full state honours in Mumbai.

“Anybody who met Mr Tata came away with a story about his humanity, warmth, and dreams for India. There really was no one like him. Our relationship grew over the years, first focusing on business and eventually evolving into a more personal connection. We discussed interests ranging from cars to hotels, but when our conversations turned to other matters — those of daily life — he would show how much he noticed and felt. He was someone to be discovered, over time and through experience. I remember several such instances,” Chandrasekaran said in a post on LinkedIn.

Chandrasekaran record the momemt when he just became Chairman, saying “I was introduced to a situation within Tata Motors which involved a dispute between the company and the employees’ union over wages for two years. In March ‘17, Mr. Tata and I met the union leaders together. During the meeting, Mr. Tata relayed three messages: he regretted the delay in finding a resolution. He explained that the company was passing through hardship. And both of us committed that this dispute would be concluded within a fortnight.”

Ratan Tata’s direction squarely focused on making sure employees were well taken care of—not just to resolve the dispute, but to ensure they and their families’ well-being. Across other Group companies, his perspective on employees was uniform. It is something that has shaped a number of our leaders across the Group, he stated.

Chandrasekaran also shared a telling anecdote about Tata’s character during the renovation of Bombay House, the Tata headquarters.

He wrote, “Bombay House had not been touched since 1924, and more important (as many people told me) Mr. Tata would not like it. “Bombay House is a temple,” I was told, emphasising its sanctity. When I finally mentioned to Mr. Tata about Bombay House, he said, “May I ask you something? When you say ‘renovate’, do you mean ‘vacate’?” I explained that we planned to move everyone to a nearby office. He gently clarified: “Where will the dogs go?” The dogs were an integral part of Bombay House, often seen at the reception. “We will build a kennel.” “Really?” he said, considering it. When the renovation of Bombay House was complete, Mr. Tata wanted to see the kennel first.”

He was very happy to see how thoughtful the kennel’s design was, and how well the dogs would be cared for. Seeing his happiness with the kennel and his priorities was a reminder that while big projects are important, it’s the details that reveal how we think, what we prioritise, and how we are perceived. His joy was confirmation that we had done the right thing, the Tata Sons chairman wrote.

Chandrasekaran concluded his tribute by highlighting Tata’s remarkable memory and keen observation skills. Whether recalling the intricacies of a room’s design or the content of a book read years prior, Tata possessed a photographic memory and an exceptional ability to process information.

“His eye received everything clearly, as his mind perceived everything clearly,” Chandrasekaran concluded, encapsulating the essence of Ratan Tata: a leader defined not only by his business acumen but also by his profound humanity and unwavering attention to detail.