India holds state funeral for tycoon Ratan Tata

The funeral has taken place in Mumbai of Ratan Tata, the former chairman of one of India’s biggest conglomerates, Tata Group, who died on Wednesday aged 86.

Business leaders, politicians and celebrities were among thousands of people who paid their last respects at the centre where his body lay in state before being cremated.

Maharashtra state declared a day of mourning and his coffin was given a military salute as it was taken away for the funeral rites.

Ratan Tata took over as group chairman in 1991 and is credited with transforming it into a global powerhouse.

Thousands turned up at the National Centre for Performing Arts in Mumbai, where Ratan Tata’s body was taken in the morning, to pay their respects.

His casket was wrapped in the Indian flag and covered with wreaths of white flowers.

Fellow business tycoon Mukesh Ambani, Home Minister Amit Shah and Bollywood star Aamir Khan were among those present to say goodbye.

Also in attendance was Ratan Tata’s dog, Goa, accompanied by two Tata employees. The dog was rescued from the streets of Goa state, which gave it its name.

The tycoon, who had a reputation for being modest and shy, was known for his philanthropic work, including animal welfare, health and education.

Tata’s death was announced on Wednesday night. He had been admitted to hospital earlier in the week.

“His legacy will continue to inspire us as we strive to uphold the principles he so passionately championed,” a company statement said.

The Tata Group is one of India’s largest companies, with annual revenues in excess of $100bn (£76.5bn), and he was one of India’s most internationally-recognised business leaders.

Founded 155 years ago, the group straddles a business empire ranging from Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Steel, to aviation and salt pans.

During his 20-year tenure, the conglomerate made several high-profile acquisitions, including the takeover of Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus, UK-based car brands Jaguar and Land Rover, and Tetley, the world’s second-largest tea company.

Some of those decisions paid off, while others – including a failed telecom venture and the Nano, which was billed as the world’s cheapest car but flopped – lost money.

Tata was born in a traditional Parsi family in 1937. He studied architecture and structural engineering at Cornell University in the US.

In 1962, he joined Tata Industries – the promoter company of the group – as an assistant and spent six months training at a company plant in Jamshedpur.

From there, he went on to work at the Tata Iron and Steel Company (now Tata Steel), Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and National Radio and Electronics (Nelco).

In 1991, JRD Tata, who had led the group for over half a century, appointed Ratan Tata as his successor. “He [JRD Tata] was my greatest mentor… he was like a father and a brother to me – and not enough has been said about that,” Tata later told an interviewer.

In 2008, the Indian government awarded him the Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second-highest civilian honour.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Tata as a “visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being”.