Indian industrialist Ratan Tata has left a large chunk of his £91million fortune to his dog in his will, asking that his beloved dog be given “unlimited care” upon his death.
Tata, who is credited with transforming the Tata Group into a world-renowned conglomerate, died in a Mumbai hospital earlier this month at the age of 86.
As is common in India, the businessman, who never married or had children, would have left his assets, valued at around £91 million, to his brothers.
But the former Tata Group chairman passed over his brother, Jimmy Tata, and half-sisters Shireen and Deanna Jejeebhoy in favor of his beloved German shepherd, Tito.
According to the TimesTata claimed that his dog, his butler and general assistant, Konar Subbiah, and his cook, Rajan Shaw, should each receive a large portion of his fortune. His brothers will only inherit part of his assets.
Ratan Tata photographed with his beloved German Shepherd dog, Tito
Tata specified that measures should be taken to provide “unlimited care” for her beloved pet, who was by her side when she died.
In India, it is rare for pets and servants to receive such a generous amount, and wealth is usually kept within families.
In her will, Tata specified that provisions should be made to provide “unlimited care” for her beloved pet, who was by her side until her death.
It is in keeping with Mr Tata’s lifelong love for animals, and doormen at Tata Group headquarters were instructed to never 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 looking after Tito, is generous.
“He has made very, very generous provisions for them,” he told the Times. “They will never have to work again and they will be very well taken care of.”
He added that the instructions did not surprise 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” given to him by his pets and his two loved ones. closest. helpers.
Tributes poured in earlier this month after Tata’s death was announced.
The will is in keeping with Mr Tata’s lifelong love of animals, and doormen at Tata Group headquarters were instructed to never turn away a stray animal (pictured with his dog, Goa).
Goa attended final visit of former Tata Group chairman in Mumbai
Mourners attend the funeral ceremony of Indian business tycoon 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 behind an extraordinary business and philanthropic legacy and was instrumental in mentoring and developing modern business leadership in India.
“In my last meeting with Ratan Tata at Google, we talked about Waymo’s progress and it was inspiring to hear his vision,” Pichai said on X.
“He cared deeply about improving India.”
Born in 1937 in Bombay, now Mumbai, Tata originally planned to be an architect and was working in the United States when his grandmother, who raised him, asked him to return home and join the growing family business.
He started in 1962 at TISCO, now known as Tata, staying in an apprentice hostel and working in the workshop near the blast furnaces.
Tata is credited with transforming the Tata Group into a growing global conglomerate.
Tata oversaw Tata’s transformation into a growing international company, acquiring the British car brands Land Rover and Jaguar.
In 1991 he took over the family empire, riding the wave of radical free-market reforms that India had just unleashed that year.
During Tata’s 21 years at the helm, the salt and steel manufacturing conglomerate expanded its global footprint to include British luxury brands such as Jaguar and Land Rover.
The tycoon stepped down as president in 2012, before briefly taking over as acting president in October 2016, after his successor, Cyrus Mistry, was ousted.
Tata Group is now a sprawling grouping of nearly 100 companies, including the country’s largest automobile maker, its largest private steel company and a leading outsourcing company.
It employs more than 350,000 people worldwide. In June 2008, Tata bought Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford for $2.3 billion.