Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus of one of India’s largest conglomerates, the Tata Group, passed away at the age of 86 after a prolonged illness. He had been hospitalized due to age-related health conditions.

In an deep emotional tribute, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reacted to the death of Ratan Tata in a post on X.

"Shri Ratan Tata Ji was a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul, and an extraordinary human being. He provided stable leadership to one of India’s oldest and most prestigious business houses. His contributions extended far beyond the boardroom. His humility, kindness, and unwavering commitment to making our society better endeared him to many," PM Narendra Modi said.

Moreover, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also took to X to express his condolences. He wrote, "Ratan Tata was a man with a vision. He has left a lasting mark on both business and philanthropy. My condolences to his family and the Tata community."

Ratan Tata was known for his charitable endeavors. He served as the chairman of the Tata Group from 1991 to 2012. In 1996, he established Tata Teleservices, the group’s telecommunications venture and spearheaded the initial public offering of Tata Consultancy Services in 2024. Tata retained the honorary title of chairman emeritus for several Tata companies, including Tata Sons, Tata Motors, Tata Steel, and Tata Chemicals before stepping down as chairman in 2012.

"It is with a profound sense of loss that we bid farewell to Mr. Ratan Naval Tata, a truly uncommon leader whose immeasurable contributions have shaped not only the Tata Group but also the very fabric of our nation," said N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons, in a late night statement.