Amul's Jayen Mehta Pays Tribute To Ratan Tata

Visionary business leader and chairman emeritus of the Tata Group Shri Ratan Tata passed away on 9 October 2024.

It was exactly on this day, 16 years ago in 2008, that I had a chance to meet with an extraordinary human being at Newark International Airport, USA.

Shri Ratan Tata, I and our MD Shri BM Vyas were on the same Air India flight from Mumbai to Newark. Shri Ratan Tata and PM Modi, then the CM of Gujarat had announced the MOU of the Nano Plant at Sanand on the previous day.

I was travelling with our MD to Washington to sign the first South-South Exchange facility of the World Bank.

While disembarking, we noticed Shri Ratan Tata walking out of the First-Class section. I followed him.

I noticed him walking unescorted all the way up to the immigration counter. He filled up the form in his neat handwriting and being just behind him, I noted that he was travelling to Boston. He very politely answered a few queries from the immigration officer and walked out with his stamped passport.

I followed him and there were only both of us waiting at the baggage belt.

I mustered courage and went closer to him. I introduced myself and said “Sir, I am from Amul in Anand. Welcome to Sanand.”

He very warmly shook hands with me and said “Yes, we are neighbours now”.

I was simply astonished by his quick wit and the presence of mind even after a 16-hour long nonstop flight.

By then, our MD had joined, and we discussed a few things about Amul. And in a few minutes, a few other passengers also gathered around him.

Very soon, the baggage arrived. He picked up his suitcase and walked out of the airport, alone and unescorted. Very few people would realise that the Chairman of India’s largest conglomerate was travelling in this way, all by himself and that too in a passenger aircraft.

Shri Ratan Tata had written a foreword of Dr Kurien’s memoir “I too had a dream”. What he wrote was very inspiring and I quote: “What, he, therefore, did for the dairy industry in India was truly amazing. One cannot help but wonder what India would be today if we had a thousand Dr Kuriens with this type of vision and with similar commitment, dedication and national spirit”.

Shri Ratan Tata has made a similar huge contribution to building India through the legacy and trust of his conglomerate and his personal charisma and values. Just like Amul, the brand Tata is built on the core value of trust and pride in the nation.

We will miss you, Sir.

Jayen Mehta

Guest Author The author is the Managing Director of the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF)