Aik Bohat Bare Insan Ki Maut

“Was the deceased some king or ruler, whose death has grieved the entire India?”
“No, he ruled over hearts.”
“Was he a politician?”
“No, he was simply a servant to the people. He did for India what all the political parties combined could not achieve.”
This was a conversation between an Indian delegate and an Australian journalist.

“How would you compare Mukesh Ambani and Ratan Tata?”
A few years ago, I asked this question to an Indian businessman during an international conference. Without a moment’s hesitation, he replied, “There is no comparison; one is the earth, and the other is the sky. One is a candle, while the other is the sun.”
“Sir, Ambani is just a capitalist, while Ratan Tata is a great human being.”

The fame of the departed’s family lay in wealth, but Ratan is remembered by everyone not as an industrialist or capitalist, but as a great man and a benefactor of the nation.

How does one become a great person? By building the most expensive homes, buying the most luxurious planes, or spending billions on weddings?
No, absolutely not. If that were the case, Ambani, who spent billions on his son’s wedding, would be considered great. He brought in big Bollywood actors to perform for weeks and invited world-renowned personalities to attend the festivities via chartered flights. He owns several TV channels and newspapers, but despite all his efforts in image-building, he is not recognized as a great man. Why? Because greatness cannot be achieved by lavish spending and showboating. Ratan Tata did none of these things, yet every Indian considers him a great man.

The Tata Group was founded by Jamshedji Tata, who started with merely twenty thousand rupees in trading. Today, the group’s revenue stands at $165 billion, and the genius who propelled it to such heights was none other than Ratan Tata.
When his parents separated, Ratan was only seven, and his grandmother raised him. He obtained his early education in India and higher education in the United States, generously contributing to the development of the universities he attended. After completing his studies, he began his career with the Tata Group of Companies and became the group’s chairman a few years later. His ascent never slowed, reaching ever-greater heights. He established new industries one after another, setting new records of success.

Throughout India, 90% of the petroleum business was his. He owned Asia’s largest steel mill and held an undisputed monopoly over automobile manufacturing in India. His business extended to 150 countries, with his products reaching all six continents.

With all these successes, did he consider himself a truly fortunate person who had attained all the happiness the world had to offer? Listen to Ratan Tata’s own words on this matter:
“When I acquired great wealth, I felt very happy, but this happiness was short-lived. Then, when I established industry after industry and became the owner of the most expensive assets, I experienced a great sense of elation, but that too proved to be temporary. The feeling of possessing wealth and assets certainly brought joy and contentment, but after a few months, I realized that this excitement was not permanent; the sense of happiness faded after a while.
As assets grew, the heart did not find true contentment and happiness. Everything began to feel routine. Then one day, a close friend came to me and said, ‘Ratan, come with me today; I will take you to a place where you will find the joy that you have never experienced before.’ I went with him, and he stopped the car in front of a center established for disabled children. We had brought wheelchairs for them since they couldn’t walk. Some children sat on the wheelchairs and started to move them; their faces lit up with joy, and the sparkle in their eyes was indescribable.

When we were about to leave, one of those children clung to my legs, looking up at my face. When I tried to free myself, he said, ‘Please wait a moment! I want to memorize your face so that when I see my benefactor in Heaven, I can say thank you right away.’ This child’s words changed my outlook on life; I realized that true joy comes from bringing happiness to others, and the purpose of life is not to accumulate wealth, but to serve those in need.
By supporting the helpless and bringing them some happiness, one can find true contentment.”

After discovering this truth, Ratan’s love for money faded, and a love for humanity took its place. This does not mean he stopped working hard or establishing new industries; on the contrary, his efforts were extraordinary and astonishing, with no sign of slowing down. When Jaguar and Land Rover companies began incurring losses, Ratan purchased them and turned them profitable within a few years. He continually experimented with new ventures and took on significant risks. He founded a top-quality airline and established a chain of hotels like “The Taj.”

He set flags of success in the energy, chemicals, and IT sectors and reached the pinnacle of excellence in manufacturing perfumes, jewelry, and watches, surprising everyone. But he never traded in power; he became a facilitator for the common people, not for rulers. He decided to make the most affordable car for the public and eventually introduced one priced at just one lakh Indian rupees.
The Tata Group owned assets worth 13 trillion Indian rupees, but Ratan dedicated 66% of the income to the health, education, and social welfare of the people. He took only 2% of the income for himself, led a simple life, and disliked ostentation and protocol. It was for these reasons that Indians adored him and even regarded him as divine.

Ratan Tata was a highly dignified and principled person. The famous Indian actor Dilip Kumar often recounted that whenever he traveled, people would gather around him, seeking autographs and photos. Once, on a flight, an unusual incident occurred; while I sat next to an extremely graceful passenger, he paid me no attention. When the plane landed in Mumbai and came to a stop, I introduced myself, saying, ‘You might know that I have acted in many films, and the world knows me as Dilip Kumar.’ I then asked, ‘And who might you be?’ The gentleman stood up and said, ‘I am an industrialist; my name is Ratan Tata.’ I thought to myself, indeed, Ratan Tata was exactly as I had heard.”

It wasn’t just India; even many European leaders were impressed by Ratan’s personality. In 2018, Prince Charles of Britain decided to award Ratan Tata a Lifetime Achievement Award. All arrangements were made for the ceremony at Buckingham Palace, and Ratan was informed of the date. Guests were also invited.

Then it happened that one of Ratan’s two pet dogs fell ill. Two days before the ceremony, the phone rang at the Tata Group’s UK manager’s office, and it was Ratan Tata on the line. “Please thank Prince Charles and convey my apologies for not being able to attend the award ceremony because my dog is sick, and I need to take care of it.” Despite the manager’s pleas, explaining that the royal family might consider it an insult and it could negatively impact their business, Ratan remained firm and chose to care for his dog instead of becoming a royal guest. When the manager nervously informed Prince Charles about Ratan Tata’s absence and the reason, the Prince responded without any displeasure, saying, “That’s the man Ratan is. Truly, people like Ratan Tata are born only once in a while.”

As an Indian newspaper rightly wrote upon Ratan Tata’s passing, “No one knows the diamond that kings used to adorn their crowns, but today, India has lost its true Koh-i-Noor.”

I searched extensively, yet I could not find even a shadow of a Ratan Tata in Pakistan, someone driven by the spirit of serving the people. May Allah grant that the next generation of our industrialists produces a Ratan Tata.