Ratan Tata’s Life: How His Grandmother’s Wish Shaped India’s Business Titan

The article first appeared in The Daily Guardian on October 10, 2024 Ratan Tata, the esteemed former chairman of Tata Group, passed away at 86. Known for his leadership and philanthropy, Tata’s life was shaped by his return to India at his grandmother’s request. He transformed the Tata Group into a global powerhouse and earned India’s highest civilian honors for his contributions.

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Ratan Tata: A gentleman tycoon & a global Indian

The article first appeared in Deccan Chronicle on October 11, 2024   Ratan Tata’s leadership turned Tata into a global brand, cementing his legacy as a symbol of Indian business excellence and compassion. Jamshedji Nusserwanji Tata began his career as a bit player in imperial commerce. Ratan Naval Tata ended his as the symbol of independent India’s best known and most respected global brand. Among the many historic, courageous and, sometimes, controversial decisions of the man who built the House of Tatas, JRD – Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhai Tata -- was his decision to choose Ratan as his successor...

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When Ratan Tata opted to be with his ailing dog over receiving an award from Prince Charles

The article first appeared in Times of India on October 10, 2024 Ratan Tata, a known animal lover, prioritized his ailing dog over receiving a prestigious award from Prince Charles in 2018. At Tata Group's Bombay House headquarters, stray dogs are welcomed and even have a dedicated kennel...  

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In the US, the Indian diaspora has a political influence that far exceeds its demographic weight

The article first appeared in The le monde on October 9, 2024. If Kamala Harris wins the presidential election in November, she will not only be the first woman president of the US, but also the first president of Indian origin. If she loses, Americans will, for the first time, have a Second Lady of Indian origin. Usha Vance, wife of J.D. Vance, Donald Trump's running mate, is a self-confessed Hindu and vegetarian.

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Bombay to Jakarta via spices, films, people

The article first appeared as the blog post of Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations on September 20, 2024

• Mumbai and Jakarta share a 200-year history of trade in spices and a once-shared love for Bombay’s silent films. Transnational networks of Indian spice and cloth merchants have marked both cities with their business, culture, and faith. A testimony to this history today is the city’s Indonesian consulate, established in 1951 – just four years after India’s independence...

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Indian-diaspora is strong in rural and small cities in America

The article first appeared in The Times of India on September 22, 2024. For years, the Indian diaspora in America was thought to be entirely in big cities like New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Houston. However, US census data from 2020 shows that of the 5 million Indian-Americans, nearly 40% live in rural American or smaller cities.

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