N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, recently shared a heartfelt post reflecting on his deep relationship with Ratan Tata, the former Chairman of Tata Sons and one of India’s most revered business leaders. Through his post, Chandrasekaran highlighted the extraordinary qualities that made Ratan Tata not only a visionary leader but also a compassionate human being who had a profound impact on everyone who met him.
“Anybody who met Mr Tata came away with a story about his humanity, warmth, and dreams for India. There really was no one like him,” Chandrasekaran wrote on his LinkedIN wall. Their relationship, which initially centered around business, blossomed into a personal bond over the years, spanning discussions on a wide array of topics ranging from cars to hotels and even the details of daily life, he added.
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One particular memory Chandrasekaran shared was from the early days of his tenure as Chairman of Tata Sons. He recalled an incident at Tata Motors, where a wage dispute between the company and its employees’ union had persisted for two years. Together with Ratan Tata, Chandrasekaran met the union leaders in March 2017. “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,” he reflected. This compassionate leadership, rooted in care for employees, has shaped the ethos across many Tata Group companies, says Chandrasekaran.
Chandrasekaran also shared a more personal anecdote about his desire to renovate Bombay House, the iconic headquarters of Tata Group. The building, untouched since 1924, was considered sacred by many. When he broached the subject with Ratan Tata, what struck Chandrasekaran most was not a concern about the building itself but rather about the well-being of the dogs that resided there. Ratan Tata’s immediate question was, “Where will the dogs go?”
This moment, among many others, Chandrasekar says, highlights Ratan Tata’s keen attention to detail and compassion. Chandrasekaran ensured the creation of a thoughtfully designed kennel for the dogs, and Ratan Tata’s happiness upon seeing it was a moment of validation. “While big projects are important, it’s the details that reveal how we think, what we prioritize, and how we are perceived,” Chandrasekaran emphasized,, providing an insights into the compassionate leadership that Ratan Tata believed in.
Chandrasekaran added in his tribute that Ratan Tata passed an extraordinary memory and keen observational skills, qualities that have contributed to his lasting legacy. “His eye received everything clearly, as his mind perceived everything clearly,” he said.