"Nee yenna periya Tata va Birla va" used to be a common quote to put someone in place if they are trying to show off and possibly that was the first time i had heard about that famous surname. So much so that there is even a tamil movie by the name "We are not Tata Birla". Yesterday was a sad day for India business world with passing away of Ratan Tata. A person who hardly had any haters (not sure about a mystery mistry though!!) and was wholesomely loved by anyone. Some how the mob mentality, i believe, has a big role to play in the life of public figures. I wonder how many would post such touchy feely posts after Mukesh Ambani or a Birla or even Godrej for that matter!! Not that they were bad people, but they are often painted or projected as the typical rich who bandy about their wealth and show off at every possible opportunity. Again. Nothing wrong and no comments against such acts. Pallu irukaravan pakoda saapdraan has long been my standing dictum for such practices. But in a country where humbleness and silence is often the most appreciated trait as compared to being vivacious, its no wonder that Ratan Tata's approach to his fame was much easier to spun around for the PR machinery as compared to the unabashed approach of his illustrious rich peers. Like MGR, Rajini, even Vijaykanth for that matter, the seeds of fame that has been sown about Ratan Tata and the former folks mentioned here, will trhive for generations and the TATA group would serve themselves well if they do more to ensure the flame of his fame never dies.
There are so many quotes and stories about Ratan Tata already across several social media platforms for several years now. Like how people attribute good quotes to famous people, half convinced that they might've said such great sayings and how any good song in the 80's and 90's are automatically credited to Ilayaraja as the composer, Ratan Tata is already part of the living legend hall of fame of quotes, even when he was at his active best. To me of all the things that he did, the aftermath of the Taj hotel attack and how he handled that situation stands out and possibly the best example of a leader leading from the front. It was touching and really heart warming how he stood in the front and supported his staff. The pictures of him with his staff and other beneficiaries were really motivating and were full of positivity. The other instance being how he invested on startups and encouraged young folks into entrepreneurship. Of course it was not free money, but the very fact that his name is in the investor list was enough to send many a valuations into dizzying heights. His launch of the 1 lakh rupee car was something that wasn't just talk of the town, but like him and several others i thought he had sounded the death knell to two wheelers only to be proven wrong. But what an aggressively nice idea it was to launch. I am quite sure thala would've lot more tales to tell about this man and his deeds. Would be quite nice if he can guest write a post about one of the most loved rich man of India, who was known more for his virtue as much as his wealth.
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He was the last of an old world generation of business leaders - exemplified by JRD Tata and then carried on by him. I should say first started by Jamshedji Tata the patriarch. The world has changed. There won't be anymore like him. That's a sad thought.