Globally renowned Indian industrialist and visionary leader Ratan Navel Tata passed away at the age of 86 on late October 9th, 2024. He had recently been admitted to a Mumbai hospital and was in the ICU due to his "critical" condition. The Tata Group and its current chairman, N Chandrasekaran, shared the news of the pioneer's passing on social media. While Indian as well as global leaders and celebrities are paying their respects online, many are thronging to the NCPA lawns in Mumbai to pay tribute to Ratan Tata. The Maharashtra government has also announced today to be a day of mourning, with all state events cancelled.
As the news of Ratan Tata’s passing shocked the country, it highlighted the commendable work of an individual whose contributions and achievements extended well beyond the scope of business. He was a philanthropist, a mentor and an inspiration to millions as the leader who transformed the Tata Group into a global brand to be reckoned with.
Spending 86 glorious years setting an example for many generations to come, the billionaire’s legend is a reflection of his humble Parsi upbringing – much like what he relished the most when it came to eating. Well-travelled and wise, Tata’s passion for culinary excellence extended beyond simply eating home-cooked, traditional meals of dhansak, akuri, patra ni macchi and pulao lovingly put together by his sister, his collective contribution to uplifting the community, both – in Mumbai as well as Jamshedpur – is noteworthy.
Tata's Early Food Memories
Aside from sumptuous Parsi meals that were synonymous with comfort, Tata also loved sushi and the indulgence of sweet treats like custard and chocolate. Given his attachment towards the city of Mumbai, plates of dosas and pav bhaji also made it to his list of favourites. Balancing the decadence with the virtues of fruit consumption, salads or grilled fish, he wasn’t one to back down from exploring new eateries or restaurants. From the fiery hedonism of Taj President’s Thai Pavilion restaurant to the swanky lounges of New York’s Cipriani, were mainstays. So much was his love for simple food that a khatta-meetha (sour-sweet) masoor dal cooked with garlic and mutton pulao is said to have been food for the soul.
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Beyond Eating
The Ratan Tata Institute’s (RTI) bakery in South Mumbai, an establishment started by a member of the Tata family, Lady Navajbai Tata in April 1928, was an avenue for destitute women to cook, stitch and teach as a means of earning a livelihood. Almost a century old now, the smell of freshly baked cookies and cakes continue to waft down the street as loyal patrons have been making a beeline for their fill of Parsi mutton cutlets, khaman na ladoo, kaju ni ghari and dar ni pori.
With time, as technology evolved, the bakery’s rich chocolate cake, cheese straws and Swiss pastries were simply a tap away on the phone. Speaking of which, it would be only fair to acknowledge Tata’s biggest contribution to pop culture in India – the famous Starbucks cup – which became a status symbol for millennials as the franchise made its way into the country – head-butting most other coffee chains aside for a hot minute.
Being a true example of how to give back to the community that made him, Tata was a regular attendee of the tribal food festival hosted by the Tata Steel Foundation. Held near the Sukinda Chromite mine in Odisha’s Jajpur district, the initiative provided a platform for tribal communities to share their cultural heritage and traditional recipes.
His mere presence was implicit of his support and celebration of the agro-forest food diversity that was fostered by the tribes as well as create an awareness on how to conserve indigenous food practices. Advocating his strong belief of empowering than enabling, Tata encouraged a sense of entrepreneurship and identify market opportunities for these tribal groups. Tata’s principle of living by example and making sure to enjoy a portion of nutty custard from time to time is one worth emulating!