Ratan Tata
Former Chairperson of the Tata Group who is better known for his philanthropic works, Ratan Tata was truly a gem of a person. His death on October 9, 2024, has left behind a huge void in people's hearts across the country. While he was an industrialist, he was well-known for his kind and empathetic nature, especially for animals. More recently, as per a TOI report, Ratan Tata's net worth was around INR 10,000 crores and in his will, he has not only left his wealth for his brother Jimmy, and half-sisters Shireen and Deanna Jejeebhoy, but also to his beloved pet dog Tito (a German Shepherd) and his house staff, among others. Now that shows the golden heart Ratan Tata had! Here we list five incidents that proved Ratan Tata's eternal love for animals, especially dogs.
Photo: Ratan Tata/ Instagram
Bombay House offers shelter to stray dogs
Tata Group's headquarters in Mumbai, which is aptly named Bombay House, is well known not just to humans but also to the strays there. Why? Because the building is open to all stray dogs in that area and they are given free food and shelter on any given day. Now isn't that adorable!
Photo: Ratan Tata/ Instagram
Goa, one of Ratan Tata's favourite pet dogs
While Tito was Ratan Tata's pet German Shepherd, he also had a beloved stray dog whom he had adopted while travelling in Goa and hence aptly named Goa. In a short time, Goa became Ratan Tata's beloved companion and he was a resident in Bombay House. So dear was Goa to Sir Ratan Tata, that the dog was also brought to his funeral to pay his last tribute to his beloved master. Now, if this doesn't touch your heart, then we don't know what will!
Photo: Ratan Tata/ Instagram
Mumbai's iconic Taj Mahal Hotel allowing entry to stray dogs
In June 2024, an online post by an HR professional praising Ratan Tata's kindness went viral on the internet. In the post, the HR professional named Rubi Khan shared that during her stay at the hotel, she noticed that there were strays peacefully sleeping at the entrance of the luxury hotel. When she asked the guard, she was told that Ratan Tata had told them to allow strays on the premises and even offer them food and water, if needed. Impressed with Mr Tata's large-heartedness, Rubi had written that the Taj Mahal Hotel truly did value "every being within its walls".
Photo: Rubi Khan/ LinkedIn
When he cancelled a meeting with the UK's Prince Charles to take care of his dog
Yes, you read that right! Ratan Tata was truly a class apart and they don't make men like him anymore. This particular incident was shared by Suhel Seth in an old video which is widely shared on social media. In the video, Suhel recalls the incident from 2018 wherein Ratan Tata was supposed to travel to the UK to get an award felicitated by Prince Charles for his philanthropic works. For this, Mr Tata was supposed to travel with Suhel Seth. But, at the last moment, Mr Tata cancelled his travel and informed Suhel that he couldn't make it to the award ceremony as one of his pet dogs was terribly ill and he had to take care of them. Later when Prince Charles came to know of this, he was highly in praise of Mr Rata. "That’s a man. That’s the man Ratan is. That’s why the house of Tata is what it is. That’s why it’s on a stable course,” Prince Charles had said about Mr Tata, shared Suhel Seth.
Photo: Ratan Tata/ Instagram
Opening a hospital for animals
As a mark of his last gift to India, Ratan Tata opened an animal hospital in Mumbai in 2024. "Tata Trusts' Small Animal Hospital is India's largest tertiary care hospital for pets," reads on its website.
Photo: Ratan Tata/ Instagram