New Delhi: Ratan Tata, the Chairman Emeritus of the Tata Group, Saturday requested social media users to discontinue a campaign to confer the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, on him.
In a tweet, Tata said, “While I appreciate the sentiments expressed by a section of the social media in terms of an award, I would humbly like to request that such campaigns be discontinued. Instead, I consider myself fortunate to be an Indian and to try and contribute to India’s growth and prosperity.”
His tweet came in response to the hashtag, #BharatRatnaForRatanTata, on microblogging site Twitter, which started trending Friday after a tweet by entrepreneur Vivek Bindra.
In his tweet, Bindra put out the hashtag with a video of Tata’s journey to becoming one of the country’s leading industrialists. In another tweet, he said: “Inspiring the young achievers, Ratan Tata says that believing in one`s ability is essential to achieve success in life. We confer the country`s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna for Ratan Tata. Join us in our campaign #BharatRatnaForRatanTata #RequestByDrVivekBindra”.
Soon, Twitter users joined the campaign and started using the same hashtag, which trended on the site.
A video worth watching: https://t.co/smhErMSTWv
Sir @RNTata2000 the true inspiration ?#BharatRatnaForRatanTata #RequestByDrVivekBindra pic.twitter.com/PKOUibfBtE
— ABHIBHAW ASTHANA (@imabhibhaw) February 5, 2021
The most deserving man for "The Bharat Ratna Award" Is our role model is Sri Ratan Tata ji??.
Like and retweet everyone for the great man.
It will the award of 130 crore people. #BharatRatnaForRatanTata #RequestByDrVivekBindra @iamsanketpandit
— Anil Kumar Khamari ?? (@AnilKumarKhama2) February 6, 2021
Out of world great person…..sir ratan tata deserved the bharat ratna#BharatRatnaForRatanTata #RequestByDrVivekBindra @NANA_PATOLE @dr_vivekbindra @PMOIndia @CMOMaharashtra @rashtrapatibhvn pic.twitter.com/vQt4beUF6F
— pramod borkar (@borkar_pramod) February 6, 2021
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A long, celebrated career
The storied career of Ratan Tata began in 1962, when he joined the group.
Over the next three decades, the Mumbai-based industrialist worked in several group companies before being named the chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata group. During his term, the group’s revenues grew manifold, totaling over $100 billion in 2011-12, according to company data.
He received the country’s second-highest civilian honour, the Padma Vibhushan, in 2008.
Tata retired in 2012, but has since held the honorary title of chairman emeritus.
Apart from being a leading industrialist for several decades, Ratan Tata is known for his philanthropic efforts as well.
He is the chairman of the Tata group’s philanthropic arm, Tata Trusts. During the Covid induced economic crisis last year, the trust pledged Rs 500 crore to fight the pandemic. At the time, Ratan Tata said laying off employees is not the solution to survive the economic challenge posed by the pandemic.
Last month, he received praise when he flew to Pune to meet an ailing former employee.
Disclosure: Ratan Tata is among the distinguished founder-investors of ThePrint. Please click here for details on investors.
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