Mumbai: Ratan Tata, a towering icon of industry and philanthropy who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 86 years, will be accorded a state funeral by the Maharashtra government. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who called Tata a “unique blend of morality and entrepreneurship”, also declared a day of mourning in the state on Thursday to pay tribute to the industrialist.
The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said the tricolour on government offices in Maharashtra would be flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning. There will be no entertainment events as well.
In a statement, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran said, “It is with a profound sense of loss that we bid farewell to Mr. Ratan Naval Tata, a truly uncommon leader whose immeasurable contributions have shaped not only the Tata Group but also the very fabric of our nation.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his tribute to Ratan Tata through a tweet on X. “Shri Ratan Tata Ji was a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being. He provided stable leadership to one of India’s oldest and most prestigious business houses. At the same time, his contribution went far beyond the boardroom. He endeared himself to several people thanks to his humility, kindness and unwavering commitment to making our society better”, he wrote.
The mortal remains of Tata will be kept at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in south Mumbai’s Nariman Point from 10.30 am to 4 pm on Thursday for people to pay their respects. At 3.30 pm, his body will be taken to the Worli crematorium for last rites. Home Minister Amit Shah will attend the last rites of Ratan Tata on behalf of the Centre.
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