N Chandrasekaran on Ratan Tata: "He was someone to be discovered over time and through experience"

On Monday, October 14, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, the chairman of the Tata Sons, shared his story and relationship with the legend. 

Ratan Tata passed away on Wednesday, October 9, at Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital. Tata was 86 years old.

"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," the post read. 

Sharing a few instances, Tata Sons Chairman shared about a dispute between Tata Motors and the employees’ union over wages for two years. "In March 2017, 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."

Mr. 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, Chandrasekaran wrote. 

His love for dogs is not unknown to anyone. 

Chandrasekaran wrote that once he expressed a desire to renovate Tata Group headquarters, Bombay House. "Bombay House had not been touched since 1924, and more importantly (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?”

“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," the post read. 

Tata Sons Chairman further wrote that if Mr. Tata ever visited a place, he could recall everything—from the placement of the smallest piece of furniture to the lighting, colours, and so on. His memory was photographic. He remembered the covers and content of books and magazines and referred to them even years later. He was always observing and processing, from large ideas to minute detail.

"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," the post added.