They don’t make men like Ratan Tata anymore, and I am not saying this just because of his numerous achievements or how he led the Tata Group and made it one of the world’s biggest and most successful conglomerates. But simply because, he was not just a visionary businessman, but also a very fine human being and a thorough ‘gentleman’.

And I know this from experience because I had the good fortune to meet him on several occasions and also observe from up-close how he interacted with people. Let me cite a couple of examples of the greatness of Ratan Tata. As many of you may know he was very fond of cars – and was a regular at the famous annual Geneva Motor Show. In 2012 or 2013, we happened to be on the same Swissair flight travelling from Mumbai to Geneva. He was just ahead of me while boarding the aircraft and pulling a trolley bag. Ratan Tata had obviously not asked for any helpers from the airline, or even any of the airport staff or security to escort him, something every wannabe VIP or so called “Very Important Person”, does in our country.

I greeted him and offered to help with his bag. He refused, but thanked me and politely inquired if I would be visiting the Tata Motors stall at the show. Then we entered the aircraft and he graciously greeted the air hostesses’, none of who knew who he was, because they had not been informed in advance! And knowing the man I can say, it must have been because he insisted on this as he did not seek unnecessary attention or desire any special treatment. On reaching his business class seat, Ratan Tata opened the overhead bin, but before he could say no again, I grabbed his cabin bag and put it inside the storage space. He not just thanked me, but also patted me on the back and said he would see me at the show.

When we got off the plane at Geneva airport, I saw him get a trolley. There was nobody to receive him inside the airport or any staff to escort him. Again I think he had not informed anybody or asked for any assistance. We were waiting together at the luggage conveyor belt and when I offered to lift his suitcase and put it on the trolley; he gently declined and did it on his own. He then took his trolley and went outside, where someone with a board was waiting to receive him. Mr. Tata then got into the waiting Jaguar and drove off and this was the first and only evidence I saw of him being a wealthy man.

Now just try and imagine how most other rich Indians, or businessmen and industrialists would have behaved.  What shocked me was that though he was already in his 70s then; he was travelling all by himself and did not have even one assistant with him. This is unheard of in our country, where even a small time industrialist or an ordinary actor or puny politician, have several staff and security always accompanying them. Most of them throw their weight around and are extremely badly behaved as they are drunk on their power and wealth.

Another example I would like to cite is of the good things that the British and other employees of Jaguar Land Rover have to say about him. One of the senior most managers, off the record,  once told me that when JLR was up for sale, they were very scared that the Chinese would take them over. But fortunately it was Tata and when they met Ratan Tata and personally interacted with him, they were actually delighted and pleased, because they found him such a nice and easy person to work with, and a gentleman to boot.

In fact I remember Ian Callum, the highly talented British car designer who was then the Director of Design for Jaguar Land Rover, telling me over dinner in an Indian restaurant in London, that he credited Ratan Tata in helping revive Jaguar’s rich sports car legacy. He said that before Ratan Tata, the other owners of JLR were only looking to make profit. But since Ratan Tata was a car enthusiast, he understood the heritage of Jaguar and was fully supportive of the project to make the F-Type, Jaguar’s modern day take on the legendary E-Type. Apparently Ratan Tata even discussed the minute design details with Ian Callum.

One other creation of Ratan Tata that sadly did not do so well is the Tata Nano. But notwithstanding the fact that it failed commercially, in my view the Tata Nano is one of the best examples of who Ratan Tata actually was, and what he stood for. One day while on his way to work, he noticed a family of four on a scooter. Something stirred in this industrialist’s heart and he decided he would make a safe ‘people’s car’ that such a family could afford. He asked his engineers and designers to go ahead with the project and announced his decision to make the ‘one lakh rupees car’. Almost everybody said this was impossible and could not be done. It won’t be a proper car.

Then the Tata Nano was shown for the first time at the Auto Expo in Delhi in January 2008. Almost everyone was impressed and thought it looked cute and attractive despite being positioned as the ‘world’s cheapest car’. And again when Ratan Tata launched it commercially in Mumbai on March 23, 2009 with the famous words “a promise is a promise”- people all over the world (including all leading car manufacturers) sat up and took notice. The “Frugally Engineered Car” was better than most expected and the entire world media went into a frenzy wanting to know what it was like. Suddenly everyone wanted one – even the guys who owned Ferrari’s and Lambo’s.

The Nano is a great achievement for India, and would not have happened if Ratan Tata did not have a heart and the courage to dream. However as we all know now, the Tata Nano failed to live up to its promise, mainly because it was a prestige and status issue and most Indian’s did not want to be seen in what was known and marketed as “The World’s Cheapest Car”. What would their neighbours think. Despite this, I believe that the Tata Nano should go down in India’s history as one our country’s most significant achievements. Let me tell you why.

Ask yourself, what were the biggest global news stories to have emerged from Independent India till about 2010.  India’s Independence in 1947 of course- but this was tinged with the news of partition and the horrible communal riots. Next the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, followed by the killing of her son Rajiv Gandhi. Also India’s nuclear tests in 1974 and 1998. Then the wars with Pakistan and also China. After that the Tsunami in 2004 and the various other natural and manmade calamities. Subsequently, it was the Nirbhaya rape case that made international headlines and television news. All negative news.

Amongst all this gloom, one of the few things from India that succeeded in making positive news globally was the Tata Nano. And in my view just for this one reason –it deserves to be permanently included in the ‘Indian Hall of Fame’. As does ‘Ratan Naval Tata’ who is undoubtedly one of India’s most glorious ‘Nav-Ratans’.  I hope and pray he is always remembered by our country and its citizens as a “Very Fine Human Being – Who Was Also a Visionary Businessman”. And the man who gave the world the term “Frugal Engineering” and proved a proper car can be made at a low cost. Jai Ho Ratan Tata. May you keep steering it your way Ratan Sir.

All Photos Bob Rupani