Politicians to Movie stars: Who's Who Line Up to Say Bid Farwell to Ratan Tata?

Since Thursday morning, thousands of industrialists, politicians, film stars, Tata group employees, friends, family members, and admirers have lined up at the National Centre of Performing Arts (NCPA) in Nariman Point to pay their final respects to Ratan Tata, 86. The father and chairman emeritus of the salt-to-software conglomerate died late Wednesday night at Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital, where he was brought in the early hours of Monday. The mob began to gather outside the hospital on Wednesday evening, as word spread that Tata, a household name, was in critical condition in the intensive care unit. Soon after the Tata group made the announcement late at night, generous tributes poured in from all over the country and around the world. Leaders and business executives praised Tata for his global vision, generosity, contributions outside the boardroom, and love of dogs. In television studios and newsrooms, there were discussions about succession and the next chapter in the Tata empire.

The main concern was whether Noel Tata, Trent's chairman and Ratan Tata's half brother, would be picked as the president of Tata Trusts, which controls 66% of Tata Sons. However, today was a day to mourn the death of the titan who had ruled over India's greatest corporate group for more than two decades, as much as to commemorate his legacy.

The Mumbai police band escorted Tata's mortal remains, draped in tricolor, as they made their final journey from his house in Colaba to NCPA at Nariman Point. The final ceremonies, with full state honours and a gun salute, were held at Mumbai's Worli Crematorium. While VVIPs gathered to pay their respects, the crematorium's gates were eventually opened to hundreds of emotionally aroused staff amid Tata chanting. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was gone on an official trip to Laos, so Home Minister Amit Shah represented the Union government at the funeral. Laying a wreath, Shah said he joined millions of Indians in mourning Ratan Tata's tragic death.

"Tata led the Tata group with clean corporate governance, followed the rules, and worked to build a better society through the Tata Trusts." Ratan Tata Ji's legacy will continue to influence people who run the country's industrial sector for many years to come," Shah stated. In a statement the night before, the Prime Minister described Tata as a visionary corporate leader, a kind spirit, and an outstanding human being.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, and Reserve Bank of India governor Shaktikanta Das were among those present at Tata's last rites. There were also prominent figures from the sector, such as Adi Godrej, Kumar Mangalam Birla, and Mukesh Ambani. Noel Tata and N Chandrasekaran, the chairman of Tata Sons, were observed mingling with the dignitaries. Aamir Khan, Madhur Bhandarkar, and cricketer Sachin Tendulkar also came in to offer their condolences.

In September 2022, Cyrus Mistry, the former chairman of Tata Sons, had his funeral rites carried out at this very crematorium. Following a protracted legal struggle between Ratan Tata and Mistry, the Supreme Court decided in the Tatas' favor. The chairman of the SP Group, Shapoorji Mistry, stated on Thursday that the Mistry family has a long-standing relationship with Ratan Tata and the Tata Group. The SP Group owns an 18.4% share in Tata Sons. With Tata's untimely death, an era has come to an end. He remarked, "He will always be regarded as a leader who had a lasting impression on the development of the Tata Group.

All state government buildings in Maharashtra had their national flags flown at half mast on Thursday, the day the state government designated a day of mourning. Maharashtra Chief Minister Shinde requested the Centre to give Tata the posthumous "Bharat Ratna," India's highest civilian accolade, on a day when the world observed the end of an era. Ratan Tata reassured the country in his most recent social media post on Monday that he had visited the hospital for a routine checkup, in response to media allegations that he was seriously ill and had been confined to Breach Candy's intensive care unit. "I appreciate you considering me," he had stated. In less than a week, his fans were saying farewell and thanking Tata.