New Delhi:

Industrialist Ratan Tata, in an exclusive interview with NDTV in 2010, recalled an interesting conversation he had with another billionaire. Mr. Tata said the billionaire suggested he pay a minister 15 million rupees for an undisclosed deal.

Mr. Tata, of course, refused. The fellow industrialist then asked Mr Tata: “How do you avoid corruption?”

To this, Mr Tata replied: “It has to regulate itself. You’ll never understand.”

Mr. Tata died on Wednesday at the age of 86 in a Mumbai hospital. Mr Tata’s death marks the end of an era in India’s economy, in which one man reshaped the country’s industrial landscape and catapulted his family conglomerate into a global powerhouse. His death has sparked widespread sadness and tributes across the country.

“I want to go to bed at night feeling like I didn’t do it (corruption),” Mr Tata said.

Mr. Tata will be cremated today with full state honors. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also announced a day of mourning in honor of the legendary industrialist and philanthropist. As a mark of respect, the national flag will be flown at half-mast over government offices in Maharashtra. Many events planned for Thursday have been canceled.

Mr Tata’s body will be kept at the National Center for Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai’s Nariman Point from 10am to 4pm today, where people can pay their last respects.