Ratan N. Tata: A Life

by Thomas Mathew

For the first time ever, the complete authorized biography is available to readers of one of the world’s most powerful business leaders, Ratan Tata. Ratan Tata’s story is that of a man who overcame extraordinary obstacles and whose compassion took priority over business profit objectives, uniquely achieving both goals. As the head of India’s oldest and largest business house, his story also encapsulates the narrative of India’s growing ambitions on the world stage and rising clout in the last few decades. During his tenure, Ratan Tata transformed the Tata Group from a collection of disparate companies into a unified powerhouse. Today, it is one of the world’s largest business conglomerates and is greatly admired for its compassionate capitalism and trusteeship model of holding wealth. This is the only comprehensive, definitive and authorized account of Mr. Tata’s life and times, his struggles and his important contributions to contemporary India. It is the story of a private individual, a great industrialist, and a remarkable leader who steadfastly believes, above all, in the values that he inherited, and who spent his life in the service of his fellow humans and a fledgling nation.

Genres: Biography, Business, Autobiography, India

608 pages, Hardcover

Published November 7, 2022

Reviews

[Dr Kashmira Gohil · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book outlines mostly the professional life of one of the mega business tycoon, Mr. Ratan TaTa who successfully managed and augmented one of the giant, sprawling business empire of the founder Mr. JRD TaTa. From Tata steel to TaTa chemicals, from TaTa power, TaTa Motors, TaTa food and beverages to Tata industries, TCL and Taj group of hotels, how he steered these units to mega profit industries, managing various road blocks with a single focus, sheer determination and integrity, is highly insightful and inspiring. His love for cars and zeal for innovations lead him to put TaTa Nano for middle class indians and also acquiring or taking over the UK based car business of Jaguar and Land rover at the same. time were super amazing. Sir RNT humility to stand up for his employees through thick and thin and terrible time put him in a different legue altogether which was evident during terrorist attack on Taj hotel in Mumbai. After his retirement, the search and appointment of Cyrus Mistry as the new chairman, the upheaval and his sudden short stint in TaTa came as a revelation,so was the incident of Tata tea in Aassam. Throught out these all, the mighty, humble and handsome Ratan TaTa stood tall in stature, both in physical and mental virtues. The book did not reveal much on his personal life except the fact that he was single and so were each of his two siblings as sisters, and about his examplary love for his dogs Tito and Tigor who he adopted and taken under his care three times, as each pair of dog completed their lifespans. I liked to read about Shri Ratan TaTa and gain much wisdom on business, tactics and solutions presented in this book. I admire him for his sheer will and integrity amidst the rampant curruptions that invades various businesses across the country and world in various ways and making the TaTa group as one house of integrity and reliability as today. Here was the man, who stood tall, single, unbending and highly successful yet having this humility to touch millions of lives through his charity and help at the right time. Hats off to his business enterpreneur personality infused with a solid integrity. God doesn't make them like him anymore!
4 stars to this book as author has done too much research to collate the material from different sources to produce this time as Sir Ratan TaTa was clearly Never the one who blew their own trumpet. If some more personal details were included on life of Shri Ratan TaTa, then I would have easily given 5 of 5 stars to this book. Highly recommend read👍👍

[Mufeed Usman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words fail me at this elated moment after having just completed the book. To do justice to the work of the author and the life of Ratan Tata, I'll leave it to the readers to explore.

One thing I can say is that you'll not be disappointed.

[Krtin Narayanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ratan Tata has remained as one of India's most iconoclastic business figures simply because of his unconventional obsession with business ethics and it's upliftment of society at large. In that regard, not only has Thomas Matthew covered this mogul's life in incredible detail, but he has also focused on the profound impact that Ratan Tata has had on the Tata group and Indian society at large.

It's a genuine enigma as to why JRD Tata chose Ratan to spearhead the loosely held federation of companies that one could barely call a conglomerate back in 1991, but understanding the various policies that Ratan Tata had implemented during his early years at the apex of the group post-liberalization and it's lasting impact after 2 decades was something that I found so intriguing. To implement those policies from the start and see how the raw numbers move in the upward trajectory was testement to Ratan Tata's unrelenting push for excellence above the rest. His uncompromising stance on his fundamental principles which focused on integrity, honesty, transparency and above all, a duty-bound need to uplift society in general really showed how his spirit is rooted in the nation's quest to become an economic superpower of the future.

Despite being a really exhausting read that covers everything from Ratan Tata's early years to his post retirement life(more than 700 pages) , I never for a single second found the book to be dull simply because of the anecdotal richness that one can find in every nook and cranny of this biography. A quote here, a personal story there, a direct recollection of every possible instance of this life that was worth reading to the very end - this book really showed why the name "Tata" is a synonym for quality and above all, is a business masterclass on how to move businesses into the 21st century and beyond.

A thoroughly fascinating read.

Rating - 8.5/10

[Roopa Prabhu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked and read this book only to better understand the legendary visionary, Ratan Tata. The book is rambling in bits and disorganised in many parts. Still I had no heart to leave it as I wanted to know more about Ratan Tata, his legacy and his service to Tata Group. The magic of Tata, the culture, is some thing I live and experience on a daily basis. It was beautiful to understand the genesis of it, to get some clarity how we are still able to experience this amazing culture and yet reach newer heights as a group.

[R Venkitachalam · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Ratan Tata, the most celebrated industrialist from the most celebrated industrial house from India died last year, several books made their appearances on the first anniversary of his death, by various authors and it indeed was a problem to decide which one to pick up to read. My final choice fell on the book “Ratan Tata: A Life” by Thomas Mathew primarily because of the number of pages in the book (more than 700) and not by any relative comparison among the books on the Tatas. The author is not a well-known writer yet and you do not have a lot to write home about his writing style. However, once you pick up the book, it keeps you engrossed and engaged at the same time. But during his book promotion tours the author talked a lot about anecdotal milestones that lent further credence to some of the important events that the author covers in his book. However, the author and the publishers could have done a better job of tackling sloppy editing in the book. The book is broadly structured in three parts – one part about the family background of Ratan Tata, then short histories of the major events in Tata companies (though here the author has not done justice to Tata Tea) and some major events that had taken place under Ratan Tata’s watch that affected the Tata companies in general. The book succeeds in offering an authentic portrayal of Ratan Tata as a business leader with uncompromising ethics, a humanist and a patriot deeply invested in India's progress. However, the author’s take on the initial years of Tata is extremely sketchy. The authors meandering style of writing in certain places looks quite contrived and at times, totally unnecessary like when he goes out of the way to describe the standoff between the Tatas and the Assamese rebels in Tata Tea, the Chapter on Tata Trusts and some others. The book seeks to explore Tata’s challenges, setbacks, values and achievements, including the transformation of the Tata Group into a modern conglomerate and his lifelong commitment to philanthropy, free markets, and social upliftment. The author could have covered a little more ground after the Bombay blasts and the way the Taj responded to it. It covers some grounds of the company’s stand on corruption and how Ratan Tata made a mark there. The protagonist is known as a reclusive and reticent person. He is also projected as a complex, warm and compassionate person. The book covers Tata’s childhood struggles, his Cornell years, his early assignments in the Tata Group. The book gives examples of his leadership style (Tata’s consultative, values-based approach), culture building within a large conglomerate, challenges in managing legacy companies and employee relations. It provides illustrations of how an Indian conglomerate navigated economic liberalisation, globalisation, diversification and how it helped the evolution of corporate governance in India. There are important takeaways from the Tata story for today’s corporate India. In the autobiography, “Straight from the Guts”, Jack Welch, the Chair and CEO makes us aware of how picking a successor is far more important than any other managerial task for a top corporate honcho. Ratan Tata failed spectacularly when he threw in the towel and walked away from the task of selecting his successor, only to come back from retirement to repair the damage done. The act of Mr. Ratan Tata for not wanting to be part of the selection committee for identifying his successor is nothing short of plain abdication on his part. All said and done, the book is a detailed, well-researched biography of a major Indian business figure; good for understanding the broad arc of his life and the development of the Tata Group under his leadership. It is useful for leadership studies, corporate strategies values studies. The book is exhaustive research with balanced perspectives and a comprehensive portrayal of one of India’s most influential industrialists. The author’s idolatry for Ratan Tata, the book’s protagonist makes one suspicious of the author’s objectivity. The book is a sure-shot recommendation.
Thank you.

[Swapna Peri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ratan Tata: A Life by Thomas Mathew is a richly detailed biography that offers an intimate look at the life of one of India's most celebrated business leaders, Ratan Tata. Drawing from extensive interviews with Tata, his family, friends, and colleagues, the book presents a personal and professional account of a man whose vision transformed the Tata Group into a global powerhouse. From his early days in the conglomerate to his tenure as chairman, the narrative reflects Tata’s unwavering commitment to integrity, philanthropy, and ethical business practices. 🌍💼

The biography highlights monumental milestones, including acquisitions like Tetley Tea, Corus Steel, and Jaguar Land Rover, which solidified Tata Group's global presence. Mathew paints a balanced view of Tata's leadership, emphasizing his ability to navigate crises, including the 2008 financial meltdown, while staying true to his core values of transparency and fairness. The book also delves into the leadership differences between Tata and his successor, Cyrus Mistry, offering valuable insights into the complex dynamics within the Tata Group. Beyond business, Mathew unveils Tata's personal life, portraying him as compassionate, introspective, and resilient—driven by a desire to uplift employees, stakeholders, and communities. 🇮🇳🌱

Ratan Tata: A Life is not just a biography; it’s a tribute to a leader whose legacy transcends the corporate world. While some critics argue the book leans towards reverence, it remains an authoritative and inspiring account of Tata’s indomitable spirit and vision. The book’s relevance is amplified by the unveiling of Ratan Tata’s bronze statue in West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, on January 7, 2025. For readers interested in leadership, ethics, and modern Indian industry, this biography is a comprehensive and thought-provoking exploration. 📚✨

[Irfan Adam M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good biography if you want to learn of his life at one go. My gripe would be it could've been edited to be a shorter read. That said it's a respectable homage for an inspiring figure.

A quote I love, paraphrased in the book

“Businesses need to go beyond the interest of their companies to the communities they serve”

[Solitude Bird · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book on one of the greatest Man ever lived. Though a detailed information on his personel life is scarce as he was really shy in sharing, but still a rare insight into how this legendary Chairman built a conglomerate empire not just to put the name TATA on the world map but also to try and enrich the needs of the poor.
A loving man, a caring man.