The passing of Ratan Tata has left the nation mourning not just an industrialist, but a rare leader who transcended divides, representing the ‘Idea of India’
The year was 2000 and the list of Padma Awardees sent to the Rashtrapati Bhawan had included a list of super achievers. The scholarly constitutionalist in President K R Narayanan went through each name carefully, as he always did. The list had included luminaries like Pandit Hariprasad Churasia, Prof J B Bhagwati, Rajnikanth, Tarlok Singh etc., but one particular name brought a smile to the face of the otherwise reserved and ultra-correct Rashtrapati K R Narayanan, and it was the name of the-then relatively young, 63-year-old Chairman of the Tata Group, Ratan Tata.
Arguably the most accomplished President ever, with a curriculum vitae of achievements that included recognition as the ‘best diplomat of Indian Foreign Service’, Ambassadorship to countries like USA, China etc., Vice Chancellorship of JNU, 3 consecutive wins as Member of Parliament, posts of Union Minister, Vice President of India, all on merit was no small achievement. Unbeknownst to many, his brilliant journey had the benefit of winds in his sails instilled by the Tata Group, long back! KR Narayanan had never forgotten what the Tatas had done to make its version of the ‘Indian Dream’ – the story from Uzhavoor in Kottayam to the Rashtrapati Bhawan had an unmistakably selfless, generous, and humble hand of the Tatas.