Indian industrialist Ratan Tata has left a large chunk of his £91 million fortune to his dog in his will, asking for his beloved dog to be given ‘unrestricted care’ after his death.
Mr Tata, who is credited with transforming the Tata Group into a globally renowned conglomerate, died earlier this month at the age of 86 at a hospital in Mumbai.
As is customary in India, the businessman, who never married or had children, is said to have left his estate, worth around £91 million, to his siblings.
But the former Tata Group chairman ignored his brother, Jimmy Tata, and half-sisters Shireen and Deanna Jejeebhoy in favor of his beloved German Shepherd, Tito.
According to the TimesMr Tata stated that his dog, his butler and general assistant, Konar Subbiah and his cook, Rajan Shaw, should each receive a large share of his fortune. His siblings will inherit only part of his estate.
Ratan Tata pictured with his beloved German Shepherd dog Tito
Mr Tata specified that arrangements should be made to provide ‘unrestricted care’ to his beloved pet, who was by his side when he died
In India, it is rare for pets and servants to be paid such a generous amount, with wealth typically remaining within families.
In his will, Mr Tata specified that provisions should be made to provide “unrestricted care” for his beloved pet, who was by his side until his death.
It is in keeping with Mr Tata’s lifelong love of animals, with doormen at the Tata Group headquarters instructed never to turn away a stray animal.
According to Suhel Seth, a close friend of Tata, the amount left to Tata’s former butler and cook, both in their 50s and now caring for Tito, is generous.
“He has made very, very generous provision for them,” he told the Times. “They never have to work again and they are very well taken care of.”
He added that the instructions were no surprise to those who knew Mr Tata well, saying: “This will is not a declaration of wealth” but a “gesture of gratitude for the joy and care” he received from his pets and two close relatives. assistants.
Tributes poured in earlier this month after Mr Tata’s death was announced.
The will is in keeping with Mr Tata’s lifelong love for animals, with doormen at the Tata Group headquarters instructed never to turn away a stray animal (pictured with his dog, Goa)
Goa attended the final viewing of the former Tata Group chairman in Mumbai
Mourners attend the funeral ceremony of Indian business magnate Ratan Tata
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Tata “a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being.”
Google CEO Sundar Pichai said Ratan Tata left an extraordinary business and philanthropic legacy and was instrumental in guiding and developing modern business leadership in India.
“My last meeting with Ratan Tata at Google, we talked about Waymo’s progress and his vision was inspiring to hear,” Pichai said on X.
‘He really wanted to make India better.’
Born in 1937 in Bombay, now Mumbai, Tata originally planned to become an architect and was working in the United States when his grandmother – who raised him – asked him to return home and join the sprawling family business.
He joined TISCO, now known as Tata, in 1962, where he stayed in a hostel for students and worked on the shop floor near blast furnaces.
Mr. Tata is credited with transforming the Tata Group into a sprawling global conglomerate
Mr. Tata oversaw Tata’s transformation into a sprawling international company, acquiring British car brands Land Rover and Jaguar
He took over the family empire in 1991, riding the wave of radical free-market reforms that India had just unleashed that year.
In Tata’s 21 years at the helm, the salt-to-steel conglomerate expanded its global footprint to include British luxury brands such as Jaguar and Land Rover.
The tycoon stepped down as chairman in 2012, before briefly taking over as interim chairman in October 2016 after his successor, Cyrus Mistry, was ousted.
Tata Group is now a comprehensive umbrella of nearly 100 companies, including the country’s largest automaker, the largest private steel company and a leading outsourcing company.
More than 350,000 people work there worldwide. In June 2008, Tata bought Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford for $2.3 billion.