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Indian entrepreneur, industrialist, and philanthropist, Ratan Tata, dead at 86

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Re: Indian entrepreneur, industrialist, and philanthropist, Ratan Tata, dead at 86

#111

Post by linksnapzz »

wuschel wrote: post #100

There is more to the story than I can tell here, unfortunately, but at least I can write this: During my work for Bentley Motors I was at one of the Geneve Motor Shows in the 2010s. During my stay at the fair, a new (1500 USD) Tata car was introduced. I visited the Tata stand with a friend, looking at their new car, which was quite the contrast in product philosophy, design and target group to the Bentley models. Tha…

Definitely a contrast with Piech; who had once been described as "just a monocle and persian cat away from being the villain in a James Bond movie".

Re: Indian entrepreneur, industrialist, and philanthropist, Ratan Tata, dead at 86

#112

Post by orochimaaru »

sgaur wrote: post #106
orochimaaru wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How exactly do you plan to do business in India without the bribes? In fact after a certain scale you need to bribe in the US too. It’s just that it’s legalized in the US as lobbying and PACs.

https://youtu.be/NzxVjUF6NQ0?t=1739 - here's Ratan Tata's answer - "I want to go to bed knowing I didn't do it".

That point is subjective. Now, this anecdote is from almost 30 years ago and pretty sure things have changed. But when I went to get my India DL you can go directly to the RTO or you go thru a “driving school”. I went thru the school - why? Because they grease the skids to get the DL. Did I bribe? No. Does the school share “profits” - I’m pretty sure they do.

So like everything else with the government in India, if you’re using agents to get your work done you’re technically not bribing. But you are.

Re: Indian entrepreneur, industrialist, and philanthropist, Ratan Tata, dead at 86

#113

Post by abhiyerra »

jimbob45 wrote: post #35
aitchnyu wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On one hand, stray dogs are a joy for many Indians. For many months the highlight of the day was going to a cafe at 10 pm in middle of work and throwing bones to the assembled dogs. On the other hand, they enter homes and kill babies, attack children and adults and carry rabies epidemics. Right thing to do is to prevent more strays from happening.

[flagged]

Yes, Indians go hunting. Some of my earliest memories were going hunting with my uncle for pheasants in India.

Re: Indian entrepreneur, industrialist, and philanthropist, Ratan Tata, dead at 86

#114

Post by pphysch »

ankit219 wrote: post #68

Many Indians (esp entrepreneurs) don't realise it, Ratan Tata's conduct is the default expectation how the successful and hyped people in India are to behave (not taking a moral stand, rather a factual one) in the society. He was known to be humble and kind and never made headlines for the wrong reasons. Many would do extensive PR, while he stayed away from the limelight. It's remarkably difficult in a country where…

What does "default expectation" mean here? Didn't the Ambanis just have the most opulent wedding of the 21st century?

Re: Indian entrepreneur, industrialist, and philanthropist, Ratan Tata, dead at 86

#115

Post by bongoman42 »

wuschel wrote: post #100

There is more to the story than I can tell here, unfortunately, but at least I can write this: During my work for Bentley Motors I was at one of the Geneve Motor Shows in the 2010s. During my stay at the fair, a new (1500 USD) Tata car was introduced. I visited the Tata stand with a friend, looking at their new car, which was quite the contrast in product philosophy, design and target group to the Bentley models. Tha…

Yes, I had the chance to meet him once because he invested in our company and paid a visit. He walked around the office and met folks, was warm and approachable even more so than our own executive team. Massively underrated guy.

Re: Indian entrepreneur, industrialist, and philanthropist, Ratan Tata, dead at 86

#116

Post by bongoman42 »

blackwateragent wrote: post #26
aitchnyu wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On one hand, stray dogs are a joy for many Indians. For many months the highlight of the day was going to a cafe at 10 pm in middle of work and throwing bones to the assembled dogs. On the other hand, they enter homes and kill babies, attack children and adults and carry rabies epidemics. Right thing to do is to prevent more strays from happening.

A little ignorant here, could you explain a little more on this part. > the highlight of the day was going to a cafe at 10 pm in middle of work Is it 'normal' to have to work late to 10pm, or does it mean second job, etc.? Or was that just a typo and you meant 10am? My gut instinct is 10am, but wanted to ask directly out of curiosity if I was wrong and get a better cultural understanding.

Its not uncommon in India, especially in offices that service the US time zones.

Re: Indian entrepreneur, industrialist, and philanthropist, Ratan Tata, dead at 86

#117

Post by hyggetrold »

dotps1 wrote: post #79

I'm sure he was an amazing capitalist, but my experience with Tata consulting was the worst. I worked for a division of GE during the Immelt years that outsourced large portions of IT to Tata, and was in charge of the transition. It was a masterclass in waste and inefficiency. Definitely one of the larger nails in the coffin of a former Fortune 5 company.

This is all I ever had heard about Tata consulting as well so I have to say it's been an education seeing how sad everyone is to see Ratan Tata pass away.

It does make a kind of sense to me now though - if Ratan Tata's goal was to pull money into India, he was massively successful. How he got there might be a different story. But that's just as true of all previous great capitalists as well.

Re: Indian entrepreneur, industrialist, and philanthropist, Ratan Tata, dead at 86

#118

Post by codegeek »

dyauspitr wrote: post #83
stasi9 wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Statistically most indians are Non-vegetarians( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetarianism_by_country#India ). Various estimates mostly around 20-40%. Statistically i "think" more people are killed by terrorist attack then cow vigilantes.

Pure vegetarian maybe but eating chicken or fish once or twice a month is still pretty much vegetarian and that’s the vast majority of the population.

That's not what being Vegetarian means.

Re: Indian entrepreneur, industrialist, and philanthropist, Ratan Tata, dead at 86

#119

Post by renewiltord »

codegeek wrote: post #118
dyauspitr wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pure vegetarian maybe but eating chicken or fish once or twice a month is still pretty much vegetarian and that’s the vast majority of the population.

That's not what being Vegetarian means.

I’ve been vegetarian all my life because I’ve eaten plants with almost all my meals. One time I was a pure carnivore and eat a meat platter but most of the time I’ll manage at least one olive or something.

Re: Indian entrepreneur, industrialist, and philanthropist, Ratan Tata, dead at 86

#120

Post by keybored »

wanderingmind wrote: post #6

People will talk about his different contribution to economy and philanthropy. However, my favorite is the story where he instructed his hotel employees to treat stray dogs well if they enter the premises. For a man of his wealth and power, to care about a stray dog truly speaks to his humble nature. RIP Sir, you were a crown jewel of the post independence India. https://m.economictimes.com/magazines/panache/ratan-ta…

> For a man of his wealth and power, to care about a stray dog truly speaks to his humble nature.

Caring about something is no feat of character or strength when that just means making someone else do it.

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