28th December 1937

Birth of Ratan Tata

Ratan Tata was born in Bombay, British India (now Mumbai, India) into the prominent Tata family, known for its longstanding business legacy in India.

1st July 1962

Graduated from Cornell University

Ratan Tata graduated with a degree in Architecture and Structural Engineering from Cornell University, USA, setting the stage for his future business ventures.

1st October 1962

Joined Tata Group

Ratan Tata began his career at Tata Group working on the shop floor of Tata Steel in Jamshedpur, India, where he learned the inner workings of the steel industry.

1st January 1975

Completed Advanced Management Program

He completed the Advanced Management Program from Harvard Business School, which equipped him with advanced skills to lead complex organizations.

1st January 1981

Appointment as Director of National Radio and Electronics Company Limited (NELCO)

Ratan Tata was appointed as the Director of NELCO, a Tata company in the field of consumer electronics, turning around the company's financial conditions.

25th March 1991

Became Chairman of Tata Sons

Following JRD Tata, Ratan Tata became the Chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, marking a new era in the conglomerate's history.

10th January 1998

Launch of Tata Indica

Tata Motors launched the Tata Indica, under Ratan Tata's leadership, as India's first indigenously developed passenger car.

1st June 2000

Acquisition of Tetley

Tata Tea acquired Tetley, a major British tea company, which was one of the largest overseas acquisitions by an Indian company at the time.

31st January 2007

Acquisition of Corus

Tata Steel finalized the acquisition of Corus Group, making it the fifth-largest steel producer in the world.

26th March 2008

Acquisition of Jaguar Land Rover

In a landmark deal, Tata Motors acquired Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford, expanding Tata's global footprint in the automobile industry.

10th January 2009

Launch of Tata Nano

The Tata Nano was launched as the world’s cheapest car with an intention to offer an affordable vehicle to the masses in India.

28th December 2012

Retirement as Chairman of Tata Group

Ratan Tata retired as Chairman of Tata Group, handing over the leadership to Cyrus Mistry after serving for over two decades.

24th October 2016

Interim Chairman of Tata Sons

Post the ousting of Cyrus Mistry, Ratan Tata returned as the interim Chairman of Tata Sons to stabilize the group's affairs.

21st February 2017

Appointment of Natarajan Chandrasekaran as Chairman

Natarajan Chandrasekaran was appointed as Chairman of Tata Sons, after which Ratan Tata stepped down from the interim chairman role.

12th January 2021

Invested in Indian Start-ups

As a venture capitalist, Ratan Tata invested in numerous startups in India, supporting a new generation of entrepreneurs.

1st May 2022

Philanthropic Efforts during Pandemic

Ratan Tata was actively involved in various charitable initiatives, particularly for COVID-19 relief efforts in India.

9th October 2024

In Critical Condition

Ratan Tata was reportedly in critical condition at a Mumbai hospital, two days after assuring the public that ongoing check-ups for age-related issues were routine.

9th October 2024

Death of Ratan Tata

Ratan Tata passed away, marking the end of an era for the Tata Group and leaving behind a legacy of business excellence and philanthropy.