“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” Matthew 19:24

Ratan Naval Tata, a towering figure both in India and globally, is celebrated for his business acumen and philanthropy. As head of the Tata family, he had control of Tata Companies valued at $365 billion as of February 2024, making it the largest business group in India. Hypothetically, if the family-owned 63% of Tata Group shares, they would have surpassed Bernard Arnault & family, whose wealth stood at $228 billion in the same period, to become the richest family in the global business world.

In fact, 66% of the shares of the parent / holding company, Tata Sons, are held by two philanthropic trusts: the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust. These trusts are renowned for their extensive charitable contributions, furthering the group’s legacy of philanthropy.

Ratan Tata, the fourth head of the Tata Group, personally held a modest 0.9% stake in Tata Sons. He was ranked 421st on the IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List in 2022, with an estimated net worth of ₹3,800 crore. Yet, he never flaunted his wealth or indulged in personal luxury.

I’ll share just two instances that highlight Ratan Tata’s generous heart.

1. In 2014, Shantanu Naidu, a design engineer at Tata Elxsi, was moved by the sight of a lifeless dog on the road, fueling his passion for helping stray dogs. He proposed designing reflective collars for dogs to make them more visible at night but raising funds for the project proved difficult. Shantanu wrote a letter to Ratan Tata on his father’s advice and received a response two months later. Ratan Tata eventually invested in Shantanu’s initiative, transforming it into what Naidu proudly calls a “Ratan Tata-backed startup.” Over time, their relationship grew, leading to a strong personal bond. From 2018 onward, Shantanu became Ratan Tata’s manager, assisting with various projects under Tata’s mentorship. Shantanu Naidu also founded Goodfellows, which offers companionship and assistance to the elderly.

2. Ratan Tata shared this story when asked about the happiest moment in his life.

“Then one day one of my friends requested me to sponsor 200 wheelchairs for an institution and I agreed to that. But he insisted I personally accompany him to the place and gift the children myself. As I reached the place and started to give away their wheelchair gifts, I saw the faces of the kids beam with happiness to receive the greatest gift of their lives.

And one child touched my leg in respect and even though I tried to release my leg, the child did not let go, he looked at my face and held my legs tighter.
I asked the child if they needed anything else and the child replied. “I want to remember your face so that when I meet you in heaven, I can recognize you and thank you once again.”

Ratan Tata is no longer with us, but as the child in the above story said, he has already earned his place in heaven, though it might not have been his aim.  Accumulating wealth without indulging in extravagance and luxury, but instead using it to benefit society and those in need, is one of the most challenging and nearly impossible feats. This is what the analogy of a camel passing through the eye of a needle represents.                   Let’s offer tribute to ‘Ratan Tata: the camel that passed through the eye of the needle.’

Ratan Tata’s exceptional character is deeply rooted in his heritage as part of a Parsi family that sought refuge in India in the early 1800s, fleeing religious persecution in Iran. They managed to preserve their Zoroastrian faith and cultural traditions, passing them down through generations. If you’d like to read more about the Tatas’ story, click here.