N Chandrasekaran, the chairman of Tata Sons, recently shared a heartfelt tribute to the late Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus of the Tata Group, through a moving post on LinkedIn. In his lengthy post, Chandrasekaran reflected on the deep connection he shared with Ratan Tata and highlighted the values that made him a beloved figure. Chandrasekaran wrote, “Anyone who met Mr. Ratan Tata came away with a story about his humanity, warmth, and dreams for India. There really was no one like him.”
Chandrasekaran recalled how his relationship with Ratan Tata grew over time. Initially, it was centered around business discussions, but over the years, it evolved into a more personal bond. As former CEO of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Chandrasekaran was closely associated with Tata for many years and shared numerous experiences with him. “Our relationship grew over the years, first focusing on business and eventually evolving into a more personal connection,” Chandrasekaran wrote.
One of the key aspects Chandrasekaran highlighted in his tribute was how much Ratan Tata noticed and felt, describing him as someone who revealed himself gradually, over time and through shared experiences. “He was someone to be discovered, over time and through experience,” Chandrasekaran reflected.
He shared a notable story regarding the renovation of Bombay House, the iconic headquarters of Tata Group, to illustrate Tata’s attention to detail and his compassion for even the smallest of considerations. When Chandrasekaran expressed his wish to renovate Bombay House, many discouraged him, citing the building’s historical significance. Bombay House, which had not undergone any renovation since 1924, was regarded as sacred. “Bombay House is a temple,” Chandrasekaran was told, emphasizing the building’s symbolic importance within the company.
Despite the concerns, Chandrasekaran eventually broached the subject with Ratan Tata, who responded with a memorable question: “May I ask you something? When you say ‘renovate’, do you mean ‘vacate’?” Chandrasekaran explained that during the renovation process, employees would be relocated to a nearby office temporarily. However, Ratan Tata’s concern was not for the people, but for the dogs that resided at Bombay House. “Where will the dogs go?” he gently asked.
To this, Chandrasekaran proposed building a kennel for the dogs during the renovation. “We will build a kennel,” he reassured Tata. To this, Ratan Tata responded thoughtfully, “Really?” demonstrating his deep consideration even for the smallest lives under his care. Upon the completion of the renovation, Ratan Tata expressed his desire to see the newly constructed kennel before anything else. He was delighted with the thoughtful design and care that went into ensuring the dogs’ well-being, reaffirming his commitment to compassion and kindness.
Chandrasekaran described the joy that Ratan Tata felt in seeing the kennel as a powerful reminder that it’s often the small details that reflect how people think and prioritize. “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 prioritize, and how we are perceived,” he wrote. Tata’s reaction confirmed that they had made the right decision.
In his post, Chandrasekaran also touched upon how Ratan Tata’s sharp memory and attention to detail were remarkable. Tata had an uncanny ability to remember even the smallest aspects of a place he had visited, from furniture placement to the color scheme and lighting. “If Mr. Tata ever visited a place, he could recall everything—from the placement of the smallest piece of furniture, the lighting, colours, and so on. His memory was photographic,” Chandrasekaran wrote, emphasizing Tata’s extraordinary observational skills.
Not only did Tata have a photographic memory for physical spaces, but he also remembered the content of books and magazines in astonishing detail, often referring back to them years later. “He remembered the covers and content of books and magazines and referred to them even years later,” Chandrasekaran added, showcasing Tata’s sharp intellect and dedication to knowledge. He was constantly absorbing information, from broad concepts to the most minute details.
Chandrasekaran also recalled an incident from early in his tenure as Tata Sons chairman, involving a dispute between Tata Motors and its employees’ union over wages. Tata and Chandrasekaran met with union leaders together to address the issue. During the meeting, Tata expressed regret over the delay in finding a resolution and emphasized that the company was experiencing difficulties. Most importantly, Tata’s focus was on ensuring that the employees were taken care of, not just to resolve the dispute but to secure the well-being of their families as well. “Mr. Tata’s direction squarely focused on making sure employees were well taken care of—not just to resolve the dispute, but to ensure their and their families’ well-being,” Chandrasekaran wrote.
This approach was consistent across all Tata Group companies, as Ratan Tata’s perspective on employee welfare shaped the leadership culture of the conglomerate. His values continue to resonate throughout the company today. “Across other Group companies, his perspective on employees was uniform. It is something that has shaped a number of our leaders across the Group,” Chandrasekaran noted, acknowledging Tata’s influence on the broader leadership philosophy within the company.
As Chandrasekaran reflected on Ratan Tata’s life and legacy, he acknowledged that there was much more to say about the late chairman emeritus. However, he concluded his post by noting that as he grapples with Tata’s absence, it is Tata’s perceptive nature that stands out the most. “There is so much else to say about who he was, but for now, as I process his absence, this will have to do: His eye received everything clearly, as his mind perceived everything clearly,” Chandrasekaran wrote in his poignant tribute.
Ratan Tata’s legacy, as remembered by Chandrasekaran, is not only defined by the large-scale achievements of the Tata Group but also by his profound sense of humanity, attention to detail, and unwavering commitment to the well-being of others. These qualities, as Chandrasekaran expressed, set him apart and made him a unique figure in the corporate world.
