Ratan Tata, the Chairman Emeritus of Tata group, who passed away on Wednesday was a known animal lover. Such was his love for animals, and dogs in particular, that at Bombay House, which is the headquarters of the Tata group, stray dogs are free to enter the premises.
Indian businessman Suhel Seth once spoke about how Ratan Tata did not attend an award function in which the then Prince Charles had to honor him, instead opting to be with his ailing dog.
“On February 6, 2018 Prince Charles wanted to give Ratan Tata the Lifetime Achievement Award for philanthropy at Buckingham Palace. Everything was set. It was under the auspices of the British Asian Trust. I reached London on the 2nd or 3rd of February, and there were 11 missed calls from Mr. Tata,” Suhel Seth said in an interview a few years ago.
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“So I’m picking up my bags at Heathrow from the conveyor belt. And I called Mr. Tata. I said, what’s happened?He said one of his dogs, Tango and Tito, one of them, had fallen terribly ill. He said I can’t leave him and come, and he didn’t come,” Suhel recalled.
Suhel Seth also said that Prince Charles was impressed with Ratan Tata’s decision. “You know what Prince Charles said, he said that’s a man. That’s the man that Ratan is. That’s why the house of Tata is what it is. That’s why it is on a stable course,” Suhel recalled Prince Charles as saying.
Bombay House, the headquarters of the Tata Group, stands out from other corporate offices. Despite the strict security checks at the entrance of the colonial-era building, it’s not uncommon to see a stray dog casually walking in. For many years, the staff has been specifically instructed to allow free entry and exit for any stray dogs that wish to enter the premises.
This compassionate approach towards the canines is attributed to Ratan Tata.
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Tata’s concern for the strays was so profound that when the Bombay House underwent renovation a few years ago, a dedicated kennel was constructed on the ground floor of the property from 2018 onwards.
Ratan Tata’s affection for pets, especially strays, extends beyond the immediate surroundings of Bombay House.
Recently, a guest at the Tata Group’s IHCL-run Taj Hotel shared a heartwarming story about a stray dog peacefully sleeping at the entrance of the luxurious hotel. The guest was informed that this practice originated from Ratan Tata’s instructions.
Furthermore, Tata Trusts, which was led by Ratan Tata, established a small pet hospital in a prime location in south central Mumbai’s Mahalaxmi area.