Forbes StaffThis decision by India’s Titan, who died at 86 on October 9, had at that time left a lasting impression on King Charles III.
India lost a gem on Wednesday. Mr. Ratan Tata, the Titan of India, a global leader and philanthropist, died at 86 in a Mumbai hospital. He was not just India’s pride but also a beloved, kind, and compassionate man who had a special love for animals. All his life, he championed animal welfare, and this love and dedication for animals once led him to forgo a royal honor to care for his sick dog.
Ratan Tata’s compassion for animals had once led him to forgo a royal honor.
Ratan Tata was known worldwide for his kindness and compassion. His commitment to those he loved was so strong that once, he skipped a royal award ceremony to stay by his ailing dog’s side. This decision left a lasting impression on King Charles III, who praised India’s Titan, saying, “That’s the man Ratan is.”
In 2018, King Charles, then the Prince of Wales, held an event to honor Ratan Tata, but he couldn’t attend.
In 2018, King Charles, the then Prince of Wales, held an event for honoring Ratan Tata with a Lifetime Achievement in recognition of his outstanding philanthropic efforts. The event honoring Ratan Tata was organized by the British Asian Trust and was scheduled at a Buckingham Palace venue. The late global leader and philanthropist agreed to attend the event; however, days before the ceremony, his pet dog fell ill, which led to him canceling his trip. This heartwarming story was shared by Suhel Seth. In a video, he recounted arriving in London for the event honoring the esteemed industrialist, only to be left with 11 missed calls from Tata himself. Upon returning to the call, Ratan Tata explained that one of his dogs, Tango or Tito, had become severely ill, insisting, “I can’t leave home and come.” Despite Seth urging the global leader to attend the royal honor, Tata remained firm and chose to forgo the royal honor to care for his beloved pet.
Kings Charles was impressed by Ratan Tata.
Upon learning about Ratan Tata’s reason for not attending the royal honor, King Charles felt moved and impressed by his immense compassion and kindness. He expressed his admiration, saying, “That’s a man. That’s the man Ratan is. That’s why the House of Tata is so great and why it keeps doing well.”
Before passing away, Ratan Tata’s last project was the Small Animal Hospital Mumbai (SAHM), a facility featuring ICUs and HDUs equipped with life support systems for critically ill and injured animals, among other essential services.
