Remembering Ratan Tata: 5 incidents where he proved he had a heart of gold

Industrialist-philanthropist Ratan Tata was truly a class apart from the rest. He was kind and empathetic to all, including stray dogs and the voiceless animals. A social media post by an HR professional praising Mr Tata for his extraordinary principles went viral earlier this year. In a LinkedIn post from June 2024, an HR professional Rubi Khan shared how she noticed a stray dog peacefully sleeping at the entrance of the luxurious Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai. Amused by the sight, when she asked the hotel staff about it she was told that the dog had been a part of the hotel since its birth. “There are strict instructions from Ratan Tata to treat these animals well if they enter the premises,” the staff informed Rubi. Touched by the incident, she praised the Taj Mahal Hotel for truly valuing “every being within its walls”. In praise of Mr Tata and his ideology seen at the Taj Mahal Hotel, she further wrote, “We often speak about inclusion, biases, psychological safety, and emotional intelligence. I witnessed all these principles in action here. It’s a fine balance of head and heart, being authentic, and not worrying about what others might think as they enter this esteemed property.”

Not just this, stray dogs are welcomed at the Tata Group’s headquarters in South Mumbai, named Bombay House, too! The strays can walk-in and out freely, have shelter and food, and occasional health check-ups too, a blog on Tata’s official website states.

Photo: Ratan Tata/ Instagram