Ratan Tata Family Tree: A Look At Ratan Tata's Legacy And Unknown Facts

 

Here is the family tree of Ratan Tata, showcasing the lineage of one of India's most influential and respected industrial families.

Paternal Line

Great-Grandfather Of Ratan Tata: Jamsetji Tata (1839–1904)

Jamshedji Tata founded the Tata Group, the largest conglomerate in India and established the city of Jamshedpur. Born into a Zoroastrian Parsi family in Navsari, his family had fled persecution in Persia. Unlike his priestly family background, Tata broke tradition by becoming the first businessman in his family, starting an export trading firm in Mumbai.

Grandfather Of Ratan Tata: Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata (1871–1936)
A prominent businessman and son of Jamshedji Tata. Ratanji Tata, born in Navsari in 1856, was the father of J. R. D. Tata and married a French woman named Sooni. He studied at The Cathedral & John Connon School and Elphinstone College in Bombay, later pursuing a course in agriculture in Madras before joining his family's trade in East Asi

Father Of Ratan Tata: JRD Tata (Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata) (1904–1993)
Younger brother of Sir Dorabji Tata, he was adopted by Ratanji Tata, integrating Naval Tata into the family. 

Born into the prominent Tata family, was the son of businessman Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata and his wife Suzanne Briere. He is renowned for founding several key industries under the Tata Group, including Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Motors, Titan Industries, Tata Salt, Voltas, and Air India.

His contributions to industry and society earned him significant accolades, including the French Legion of Honour in 1982, and India's highest civilian awards, the Padma Vibhushan in 1955 and the Bharat Ratna in 1992.

Maternal Line

Mother Of Ratan Tata: Soonoo M Tata 
Wife of Naval Tata and a member of the Petit family. Born in Paris, Sooni married Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata, chairman of the Tata Group, in 1902 after he began learning French. She converted from Christianity to Zoroastrianism and became known as Soona.

The couple had five children: Rodabeh, Jehangir (JRD Tata), Jamshed (Jimmy), Sylla, and Dorab. 

JRD Tata later took over the family business and became India's first licensed pilot. Soona made her first flight in an aeroplane in 1913, but she struggled to reconcile her French and Indian identities. She passed away in London in 1923 at the age of 42.

Current Family Of Ratan Tata

Ratan Tata does not have any children and remains a significant figure in the Tata Group and the broader business community.

Interesting Facts About Ratan Tata

Beyond Ratan Tata’s accomplishments in business, there are many fascinating aspects of his life that offer a glimpse into his diverse interests and personal values. Here are some interesting facts about Ratan Tata that highlight his remarkable journey and legacy.

 - Despite coming close to marriage on four occasions, Ratan Tata remained unmarried. 

 - He once revealed that he fell in love while working in Los Angeles, but the girl's parents refused to let her move to India due to the ongoing 1962 Indo-China War. 

- Starting his career in 1961, Tata began at the grassroots level, managing operations on the shop floor of Tata Steel, which laid the groundwork for his future leadership within the group. 

- In 2009, he vowed to create an affordable car for India's middle class and successfully launched the Tata Nano for Rs 1 lakh.

- Bombay House has a long-standing tradition, dating back to Jamsetji Tata, of sheltering stray dogs during the rainy season. Ratan Tata upheld this practice, and after recent renovations, the headquarters now includes a dedicated kennel for stray dogs. The kennel is equipped with food, water, toys, and a play area for their comfort.

- A natural aviator, Ratan Tata showcased his exceptional flying skills by becoming the first Indian to pilot the F-16 Falcon aircraft in 2007.

- In 2010, during Ratan Tata's leadership, the Tata Group contributed USD 50 million (Rs 4,150 crores) to Harvard Business School (HBS) to establish an executive education centre. The facility, named Tata Hall, honours Tata, who completed his undergraduate studies there.

- Ratan Tata has a deep appreciation for art and culture, owning a collection that includes paintings, sculptures, and photographs. He particularly admires the works of artists like MF Husain, SH Raza, Anjolie Ela Menon, and Jehangir Sabavala. In addition to his passion for art, Tata is an enthusiast of cars and motorcycles, with a collection featuring both vintage and modern vehicles, including a Mercedes-Benz 500 SL, Ferrari California, Cadillac XLR, Chrysler Sebring, Land Rover Freelander, Honda Civic, and Royal Enfield Bullet.