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A friend’s insight into the private world of Ratan Tata

He's very low-key, very enigmatic; red is his favourite colour; and he knows what he’s doing... Read more on the man of steel.

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A friend’s insight into the private world of Ratan Tata, India’s resident man of steel

Laxman Shreshtha

Ratan Tata and my friendship dates back to thirty years ago when he had just completed his two year on-the-job training in Jamshedpur. He had come to Mumbai and was looking for paintings for his office. Unlike others who are only interested in buying art, he’s someone who knows what he’s doing and always eager to know more.
 
There was a time when I’d go over to Ratan’s place for breakfast and we’d head to his office. At his office, there’d be around twenty people waiting to take his bag. But the humble and down-to-earth person that he is, he’d insist on carrying it himself.

It’s a small gesture but it speaks volumes. He is very American in that sense. He has studied in the US; he respects and treats all his employees equally.

If Ratan is at home, rest assured, he’ll answer the phone. Red is his favourite colour; in fact, at one point he was so taken in by the colour that he told me that he’d buy all my paintings which have red in them.

He has toured the world and can have all the exotic cuisines he wants to. But Ratan swears by Parsi food when at home. His sister would cook yummy Parsi food that’s hard to put down.  Ratan’s an animal lover; he always has been.

I can vividly remember Ratan taking his dog Tito for his morning walk. He’d feed him a pack of Swiss chocolates everyday before heading to work. He owns another dog now — an Alsatian.

He’s a ferocious one — only Ratan can handle him! Today, he’s busier than ever; his work involves a lot of travelling. But the Ratan I know would come over every Sunday for coffee followed by a visit to his father’s shack in Juhu and a walk along the beach. He is simplicity personified.

Maureen Wadia, businesswoman

“What’s the first thing that comes to mind on Ratan? Well, dependable, a really good choice that JRD Tata made, and by this recent acquisition, has made the country and House of Tatas really proud.

He has shown tremendous integrity and dexterity — admirable ‘steel’. And you know, any great industrialist has to take a gamble and Ratan has stood up very well. This one deal has given us tremendous acknowledgement on the international map!

Having known JRD very closely and having been there all the way for the handover to Ratan, one feels very proud today.

Ratan has been a good friend. He’s a private person, very low-key, very enigmatic. A guy who works really hard, is not into publicity and at the same is an industrial giant. And whose best friend is a dog! There are few like him today. Bravo, Ratan!”

(As told to Vidya Prabhu and Farhad J. Dadyburjor)
 

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