Ratan Tata Embodied Hope and Success of Emerging India: V K Mathews

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Expressing profound grief at the passing away of Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons and Chairman of Tata Trusts, IBS Software Executive Chairman V K Mathews today said his departure is a great loss for the business world and for the nation.

“Ratan Tata was a visionary leader who embodied the energy, hope and success of emerging India,” Mathews said in a condolence message.

“More than just a visionary entrepreneur; Ratan Tata was a leader with a deep and genuine commitment to India’s economic and social progress,” said Mathews, who is also Chairman of Group of Technology Companies (GTech), the collaborative of the technology companies in Kerala.

“What stood out most to me was his humility. Despite all his accomplishments, he always remained grounded and approachable. His sense of humour brought lightness into the room, even in serious moments, making him even more endearing,” he said.

Striking a personal note, Mathews said “I had the privilege of spending some time with Ratan Tata during a trip to the US, and two incidents from that visit will always stay with me. One morning, we ended up having breakfast together at his own hotel in New York, yet, on his instructions, he never identified himself to the serving staff. It was a small but telling gesture of his humility.

Later that same day, my family and I happened to bump into him at another restaurant. To my surprise, there he was, personally verifying and correcting his food bill before paying with his own credit card—something so simple, yet it spoke volumes about his character. With his trademark humour, he asked me: Am I chasing you, or are you chasing me? That lighthearted comment captured his ability to connect with others, no matter the situation,” Mathews recalled.