'A man who carried his legacy lightly'

RIP to humble and humane Titans of Enterprise.

I first met Mr Ratan Tata in 1990.

I met his dog before I met the man. It was a balmy evening around October at the United Services Club at the southernmost tip of Mumbai. I was out walking with my toddler and suddenly this magnificent German Shepherd came bounding along. I am one of those people who just can’t resist saying hello to a dog. Any dog. Any where. So that’s what I did. Said hello to this magnificent creature. He stopped and sniffed around wagging his tail. Sniffing me and the toddler who was dwarfed by his size. She was not amused. She let out a bawl and this elderly Parsi gentleman who caught up with his dog was profusely apologetic.

That was the legendary Mr Tata. Over the years we became nodding acquaintances at the US club. He would see me and nod. I would see him and gush. At his approachability and ordinariness.

He was a man who carried his legacy lightly. It was never thrust down anyone’s throat. He lived in Bhaktawar in Colaba for the longest time in a regular flat like regular people. Talking to the neighbours and even visiting their homes for meals. A cousin of mine who lived in Bhaktawar always spoke about the fact that even his staff never threw their weight around.

One of my nephews who worked for Tata Tea in Munnar was visiting me and accompanied me on a walk to the US club. He and his wife were shocked to see Mr Tata walking along the Sea Wall with his dogs. They went upto him. To pay their respects. He was kind, curious and considerate. That was probably the highlight of their lives to have spoken to Mr Tata for him to have acknowledged their presence.

Mr Tata was deeply concerned about the elderly and had himself supported initiatives into senior care. Two months ago I wrote to him seeking a meeting to show him what we had set out to do. I got a response from his office that he had stopped meeting external people but wished me luck in my venture. That was the greatness of Mr Tata and what he stood for. Everyone was equal in his eyes.

It pains me to say goodbye to someone I cannot claim to know but someone whose life touched millions of us in so many different ways. I am sure there are many who feel the way I do. A deep sense of loss for a man who we did not know but whose life was testimony to the genuine goodness within men.

In the end Mr Tata you showed us how to be humane and humble. That’s probably your greatest gift to the world.