Despite turning the Tata Group into a global powerhouse, Ratan Tata is perhaps best remembered for his humility and down-to-earth charm. The Tata Group Chairman Emeritus passed away on October 9 at the age of 86, leaving behind not only a business but also a personal legacy marked by simplicity and integrity.

Ratan Tata has often been described as the epitome of “simple living and high thinking”, a sentiment echoed by Congress politician Gurdeep Singh Sappal, who shared a poignant memory of his meeting with the iconic leader.

Sappal recounted a visit to Tata’s home in Colaba, a posh neighborhood in Mumbai. He was surprised that the mansion was modestly furnished and more reminiscent of a middle-class house.

Ratan Tata lived in his beach house in Colaba called Bakhtawar until the end of his life. His remains were brought to his home this morning.

“Remembering the meeting with Ratan Tata”

In his post on the social media platform

“It has been decided that both will meet at Ratan Tata’s Colaba residence in Mumbai. Accordingly, Ahmed Patelji and I reached his house as planned, a house with seemingly middle-class furnishings!” Sappal recalled.

He observed an initial awkwardness between the two men and revealed that they had never met in person before.

Sappal claims he was surprised to see that the two men had never met before. “I was horrified when I found out it was their first ever face-to-face meeting! The two had never met!” he wrote.

“One was one of the top corporations in India and the other was one of the most powerful people during the UPA years! And yet they hadn’t met!”

He called it an example of how Ratan Tata, despite his stature, never sought proximity to political power and Ahmed Patel, despite his influence, never used his position to force a meeting with corporate giants.

Ratan Tata’s legacy

Several other social media users shared stories about their encounters with Ratan Tata in the hours after his death, and everyone had something positive to say about the billionaire.

Former neighbors of Ratan Tata have revealed how he used to walk his dogs around Colaba every evening before his health deteriorated.

Some X users remembered him as a “very down-to-earth and humble” person who always stopped to chat with kids in the neighborhood. Quite a few people said that Ratan Tata would take time to exchange a few words with everyone he saw.