Tag: Ratan Tata

  • How an Indian billionaire changed Nazia and Zoheb lives

    How an Indian billionaire changed Nazia and Zoheb lives

    Pop royalty Nazia Hassan and Zoheb Hassan ruled the radio in the 1980s, not just in Pakistan but in India too. But their eventful musical journey may have looked quite different if not for a simple phone call from a famous Indian billionaire.

    Zoheb Hassan shared this amazing story on his Instagram, remembering how the late Ratan Tata, who passed away at the age of 86 on October 09,2024 reached out to them and offered them a chance to create their iconic album, Young Tarang.

    Zoheb wrote, “Nazia and Zoheb you have a telephone call from some gentleman by the name of Mr. Ratan”, my mother said while handing Nazia the phone. “My name is Ratan and I am starting a music company by the name of CBS India. I would like you and Zoheb to record an album for us if possible.”

    Excitedly, Nazia asked her mother if Mr. Ratan could come over to discuss the project the project. They set a meeting for Friday, and the family eagerly waited for his arrival. When he came, he was tallm well dressed, and spoke kindly.

    Ratan Tata said, “If you guys agree then let’s make it happen. I will get someone to get in touch with you regarding the agreement. Make sure you get a lawyer and your parents to look at the agreement. If you don’t agree with anything speak to me directly.”

    With Ratan’s support, Nazia and Zoheb created Young Tarang, which features some of the first music videos in India and South Asia. During this time, MTV was just starting in the USA, and the network even reached out to express how amazed they were by the album.

    “The rest is history and we produced the YoungTarang album with possibly the first music videos India and SouthAsia had ever seen. This was around the time MTV had just launched in usa . MTV called us and said they had never seen anything like this and asked if we had done anything in English. Doordarshan played the music videos in India and the album outsold even #DiscoDewane”, Zoheb added.

    Reflecting on an unforgettable encounter with a true gentleman, Zoheb Hassan shared his memories of meeting Mr. Ratan Tata during the launch of their iconic album.

    Zoheb wrote, “When we finally met Mr. Ratan Tata on the launch of the album at TheTajHotel in Mumbai we were then told by the MD of CBS India who this great man was. Until then we had no idea who Mr.Ratan was. After the launch of the album he invited Nazia and I to his residence for dinner. We thought he probably lived in a palace. When we reached we were taken aback that the most powerful industrialist lived in such a humble abode. A small 2 bed flat sparsely decorated. We met his sister, one servant and an alsatian whom he loved dearly.”

    “It was a simple dinner with a great man which to this day I will never forget.
    A true gentleman and an icon of the business world. RIP” Hassan concluded.

    Ratan Tata was India’s most recognized business leader and he also took over the family empire in 1991, riding the wave of the radical free-market reforms India had just unleashed that year.

    Tata is also known for his philanthropic work, contributing to education, healthcare, and rural development initiatives in India

  • India mourns death of billionaire Ratan Tata

    India mourns death of billionaire Ratan Tata

    Crowds of mourners gathered in India’s financial capital, Mumbai, on Thursday for the funeral of industrialist Ratan Tata, hailed as a “titan” who led one of the country’s biggest conglomerates.

    Tata, who died at the age of 86 on Wednesday, transformed the Tata Group into a sprawling international enterprise with a portfolio ranging from software to sports cars.

    His coffin, draped in an Indian flag, was flanked by a guard of honour, with a marching band of trumpets and drums accompanying the procession.

    Mumbai has declared a day of mourning, with the funeral rites to take place on Thursday afternoon.

    “A titan of Indian industry”, The Hindu newspaper called him on its front page. “India loses its crown jewel”, the Hindustan Times wrote.

    Tributes also poured in from fellow industrialists, with Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, saying it was a “big loss, not just to the Tata group, but to every Indian”.

    Who was Ratan Tata?

    Tata was born in Mumbai in 1937 into a family of Parsis — a proud but dwindling community which played an outsized role in the city’s business affairs under British rule.

    He had intended to chart his own course in life as an architect after graduating from Cornell University in New York.

    But an appeal from his grandmother saw him return to India in 1962 and join the sprawling family business, beginning work as a factory floor labourer and sleeping in a hostel for trainees.

    He took over the family empire in 1991, riding the wave of the radical free-market reforms India had just unleashed that year.

    Tata’s 21 years at its helm saw the salt-to-steel conglomerate expand its global footprint.

    His 2008 decision to purchase Britain’s loss-making Jaguar and Land Rover carmakers for $2.3 billion burnished his reputation when Tata Group was able to restructure both brands and return them to profit the following year.

    The Tata Group said his philanthropy work “touched the lives of millions.”

    “From education to healthcare, his initiatives have left a deep-rooted mark that will benefit generations to come,” the company added.

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Tata “a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being.”

    Modi praised Tata for providing “stable leadership to one of India’s oldest and most prestigious business houses”.

    People from all walks of life appreciate him for his service towards the country.

    In one of his last social media post he addressed the concerns regarding health that was posted two days ago.