Ratan Tata's funeral procession in Mumbai drew numerous political leaders and dignitaries, with tributes pouring in from across the nation.
The portrait of a smiling Ratan Tata stood tall amid grim faces at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai, where his mortal remains, draped in the national flag, were carried from his residence on Thursday.
A sea of corporate leaders, politicians and celebrities turned up to pay final respects to the former Tata Group chairman at the venue. Hours before, the nation witnessed the legendary industrialist’s journey to the NCPA in a hearse decked with white flowers, following a police band performing the funeral procession music with trumpets and drums.
Ratan Tata had been in a Mumbai hospital since Monday, but the cause of his death was not immediately made public. He died at the age of 86 on Wednesday night. His mortal remains will be taken on the final journey at 4 pm today, news agency ANI quoted a statement from Tata Trust.
#WATCH | Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar and NCP working president Praful Patel pay last respect to Ratan Tata, at NCPA lawns, in Mumbai pic.twitter.com/j1E6DyDOrf— ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2024
A video showed the moment when Ratan Tata’s mortal remains were being carried out of his residence in Mumbai, with drums and trumpets being played as a mark of respect to him.
VIDEO | Visuals from outside Late Ratan Tata’s residence in Mumbai from where his mortal remains are being taken to NCPA Lawns.His mortal remains will be kept at NCPA Lawns from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm for the public to pay their last respects.#RatanTata(Full video available on… pic.twitter.com/Os9a6HzsAC— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 10, 2024
Another video showed Ratan Tata’s mortal remains being taken to the NCPA Lawns.
VIDEO | Mortal remains of veteran industrialist Ratan Tata being taken to NCPA Lawns from his residence.Ratan Naval Tata died at a #Mumbai hospital on Wednesday night at the age of 86 years.#RatanTata
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/tEPRMWKVb7
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 10, 2024
Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid his last respects to Ratan Tata at the NCPA Lawns in south Mumbai.
#WATCH | Union Home Minister Amit Shah pays last tributes to Ratan Tata in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/RfgOuVhmPC— ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2024
Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and Founder-Chairperson of Reliance Foundation Nita Ambani also paid last tributes to Ratan Tata in Mumbai.
#WATCH | Mumbai: Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, Founder-Chairperson of Reliance Foundation Nita Ambani pay last tributes to Ratan Tata in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/swCd0E19kB— ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2024
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar, Maharashtra Minister Uday Samant, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das were also among others who arrived at the NCPA Lawns.
#WATCH | MNS chief Raj Thackeray offers last respects to industrialist Ratan Tata in Mumbai pic.twitter.com/PVv24CddfV— ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2024
As the venue buzzed with political leaders, media persons, and a heavy police force, tributes for the visionary industrialist poured in from across the country, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi referring to him as “a visionary business leader, compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being”.
#WATCH | Mumbai | Mortal remains of Ratan Tata, draped in the national flag, kept at NCPA lawns for the public to pay last respectsThe last rites will be held at Worli crematorium after 4pm today pic.twitter.com/hRdnIrytEl
— ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2024
As more mourners gathered to pay their last respects, the Mumbai Police closed the Marine Drive road beyond the Oberoi Hotel and cordoned off the road leading to NCPA Lawns.
Mumbai: A large crowd attends the funeral of the late Ratan Tata at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) to pay their respects pic.twitter.com/Ebplumd0At— IANS (@ians_india) October 10, 2024
A video on Instagram, shared by Paparazzo Manav Manglani, showed Ratan Tata’s mortal remains being carefully carried out of the hearse at the NCPA Lawns.
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A post shared by Manav Manglani (@manav.manglani)
A Bollywood online network also paid tribute to Tata, through a post on social media.
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A post shared by Instant Bollywood (@instantbollywood)
PREPARATIONS AT WORLI CREMATORIUM
At 4 pm today, Ratan Tata’s mortal remains, via Costal Road, will be brought to the Parsi cemetery in Worli, where his funeral will be conducted with full state honours.
First, Tata’s mortal remains will be placed in the prayer hall, housing 200 people, for nearly 45 minutes.
After the prayers, the mortal remains will be placed in the electric crematorium for the final rites.
A video showed massive security outside the Worli crematorium, ahead of Tata’s last rites.
VIDEO | Late industrialist Ratan Tata to be cremated at Worli crematorium, #Mumbai. Visuals from outside the crematorium.#RatanTata(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/M57i7L4UJs
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 10, 2024
RATAN TATA’s RISE TO SUCCESS
Ratan Tata rose to global prominence with a series of high-profile international deals. In 2008, he famously oversaw Tata Motors’ purchase of British car brands Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford (F).
Born in 1937 to a family of Parsis, an ethno-religious group of Persian descent in India who follow the Zoroastrian religion, Tata graduated from Cornell University where he studied architecture and structural engineering.
He returned to India in 1962 and joined the family firm, which was founded by his great-grandfather in 1868. From those humble beginnings, Tata has been responsible for India’s first steel plant, its first luxury hotel and its first domestic airline.
Tata took over as chairman in 1991, the same year India unleashed major economic reforms, including devaluing the rupee, to open its economy to the world. And as India looked increasingly outward, so did Tata.
In 2000, the group acquired British firm Tetley, owner of one of the largest global tea brands, for $432 million. Seven years later, Tata Steel prevailed in a $12.1 billion battle for control of Corus, a British steel company.
Tata retired as group chairman in 2012 and was chairman emeritus of the holding company Tata Sons before his death. Since stepping down from day-to-day duties, the businessman had been throwing himself into improving the lot of India’s many stray animals.
