Ratan Tata's Farewell: Thousands Gather To Honour India's Business Titan

Ratan Tata’s funeral brought together people from all walks of life, reflecting his far-reaching legacy. His body, wrapped in the tricolour, lay in state at Mumbai’s NCPA from 10:30 a.m. to 3:55 p.m. Thousands poured in, from company employees to India’s most influential politicians and industrialists, all mourning the loss of the gentle giant of Indian business. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Kumar Mangalam Birla were among the prominent figures who paid their respects. Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran and Ratan Tata’s half-brother Noel Tata received the visitors. Actor Aamir Khan and filmmaker Kiran Rao also came to pay tribute, while Tata’s pet dog, Goa, was brought in for a final goodbye, symbolizing Tata’s deep love for animals. The final journey of Ratan Tata began with the transport of his body from the NCPA to Worli, where his cremation took place with full state honours, attended by around 200 people, including his brother Jimmy Tata. Parsi prayers were recited, and a gun salute marked the farewell of one of India’s most respected leaders, who preferred to stay out of the media spotlight.