The passing of Shri Ratan Tata is not just the loss of an extraordinary individual; it marks the end of an era in which Indian industrialists were central to nation-building, particularly in education, science, and healthcare. The Tata family’s contributions—founding institutions like the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and Tata Memorial Hospital,—set a benchmark no other industrialists have yet approached.
In today's time, where quality education and breakthrough science are rapidly losing focus in our country (and we are trapped in the international scam of numbers and ranking), we sorely need more industrialists like the Tata family. Unfortunately, many of today’s wealthy industrialists spend lavishly on personal celebrations (e.g. thousands of crores for marriage), but invest little in the country's research and educational infrastructure. The Tata family stood apart, using their resources not for show, but for the betterment of society.
Ratan Tata’s death is a huge loss, not only because we have lost a remarkable personality--a true "Ratna" of Bharat—but because it symbolizes the fading of a culture where industrialists played a vital role in nation-building. Tata’s focus on advancing science, education, and health created a legacy unmatched in today’s India.
JRD Tata’s support of Homi Bhabha, which led to the creation of IISc, TIFR, BARC, and DAE, played a pivotal role in establishing India’s high-quality science & education and more importantly our nuclear capabilities. Without this, India’s strength on the global stage could have been very different. Today, we stand tall thanks to the Tata family’s vision and Bhabha’s leadership. However, after Bhabha, visionary leaders in science have been scarce, and after the Tatas, industrialists have largely failed to contribute to national development in the same way.
Respect and support for Indian scientists and professors is diminishing with time, a concerning trend for a nation with such great potential. We can only hope for the resurgence of visionaries like Homi Bhabha and industrial leaders like the Tatas to guide the country forward before it’s too late.
I will always treasure the moment when I presented our work on “nanotechnology to combat climate change” to Shri Ratan Tata and the TIFR council, invited by Prof. S. Ramakrishnan, the best former director TIFR has had in the last two decades.
Ratan Tata’s words of encouragement still resonate with me, a testament to his deep commitment to science and its role in the betterment of society.
In today's time, where quality education and breakthrough science are rapidly losing focus in our country (and we are trapped in the international scam of numbers and ranking), we sorely need more industrialists like the Tata family. Unfortunately, many of today’s wealthy industrialists spend lavishly on personal celebrations (e.g. thousands of crores for marriage), but invest little in the country's research and educational infrastructure. The Tata family stood apart, using their resources not for show, but for the betterment of society.
Ratan Tata’s death is a huge loss, not only because we have lost a remarkable personality--a true "Ratna" of Bharat—but because it symbolizes the fading of a culture where industrialists played a vital role in nation-building. Tata’s focus on advancing science, education, and health created a legacy unmatched in today’s India.
JRD Tata’s support of Homi Bhabha, which led to the creation of IISc, TIFR, BARC, and DAE, played a pivotal role in establishing India’s high-quality science & education and more importantly our nuclear capabilities. Without this, India’s strength on the global stage could have been very different. Today, we stand tall thanks to the Tata family’s vision and Bhabha’s leadership. However, after Bhabha, visionary leaders in science have been scarce, and after the Tatas, industrialists have largely failed to contribute to national development in the same way.
Respect and support for Indian scientists and professors is diminishing with time, a concerning trend for a nation with such great potential. We can only hope for the resurgence of visionaries like Homi Bhabha and industrial leaders like the Tatas to guide the country forward before it’s too late.
I will always treasure the moment when I presented our work on “nanotechnology to combat climate change” to Shri Ratan Tata and the TIFR council, invited by Prof. S. Ramakrishnan, the best former director TIFR has had in the last two decades.
Ratan Tata’s words of encouragement still resonate with me, a testament to his deep commitment to science and its role in the betterment of society.