GUWAHATI: Ratan Tata, former chairman of Tata Sons, breathed his last on Wednesday, October 9, passing away at the age of 86.
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While the entire nation mourns for his demise, he will always be remembered amongst Assamese people as the messiah who spent his twilight days dedicated to improving the social and economic conditions of the state. “I dedicate my last years to help make Assam a state that recognises and is recognised by all,” the industrialist had said while attending a foundational event at Khanikar Ground, Dibrugarh, in 2022.
Ratan Tata’s actions often proved louder than his words, as he reaffirmed his commitment to Assam’s natives by inaugurating seven new cancer hospitals in the region, existing at Dibrugarh, Kokrajhar, Barpeta, Darrang, Tezpur, Lakhimpur, and Jorhat. During the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the former’s efforts, as seven more hospitals were committed to be established in Phase 2, around the regions of Dhubri, Nalbari, Goalpara, Nagaon, Sivasagar, Tinsukia, and Golaghat. All of these constituted one project under the supervision of the Assam Cancer Care Foundation, a joint venture of Tata Sons and the Government of Assam.
Ratan Tata’s efforts to make Assam an accessible place for all did not stop there; his Tata Group invested ₹27,000 crore to set up a semiconductor manufacturing unit earlier this year in March. Stationed at Jagiroad, this plant has been prioritised to assembly and testing of different levels of chipsets for automotive applications, mobile devices, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). While the semiconductor industry is still in its nascent stage across India’s regions, Ratan Tata’s commitment to push Assam as one of the subcontinent’s first states in providing self-reliance and modernisation cannot be ignored.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has expressed his regret over the industrialist’s passing on Thursday, claiming that his “simplicity” and “humility” were his unforgettable qualities, and his death leaves a “void” that cannot be filled. “His life is defined by building enterprise and giving back to society,” Sarma shared on X. “In his demise, people of Assam have lost one of its biggest well-wishers.”
True to the chief minister’s words, Assam has indeed lost one of its greatest benefactors in Ratan Tata, for he had made it a personal mission to provide more employment opportunities to the state youth during his last few years.
