Ratan Tata Cremated with State Honours; Nation Mourns Visionary Leader

Mumbai: Ratan Tata, the legendary industrialist and philanthropist, passed away on Wednesday night, and his last rites were conducted as per Parsi traditions in an electric crematorium on Thursday.

The Maharashtra government honoured Tata with a state funeral, with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde calling him a “unique blend of morality and entrepreneurship.” The state also declared Thursday a day of mourning to pay respects to the man who led the Tata Group for decades.

Tata’s body was kept at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in Nariman Point, Mumbai, for people to pay their last respects from 10.30 am to 4 pm. Later, his body was taken to Worli crematorium for the final rites.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, along with Union Minister Piyush Goyal and industrial titans like the Ambanis, were among those present at the cremation.

As a mark of respect, the Maharashtra government ordered flags to fly at half-mast, and entertainment events were cancelled across the state. In a heartfelt post on X, CM Shinde referred to Tata as a “living legend” who drove the Tata Group to new heights with his boldness and determination. Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar also announced the cancellation of all state government programmes scheduled for Thursday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the nation in mourning, calling Tata a visionary leader and a compassionate soul. He praised Tata not just for his business acumen but for his humility and dedication to bettering society, making him beloved by many.