Lounge
7 books that touch on the life of Ratan Tata and the group he led
Summary
From an authorized biography to an exploration of management styles, here are five books to better understand Ratan Tata
‘The Tanishq Story’ by C.K. Venkataraman
Fine jewellery seems far removed from the steel, tech and mining of the Tata world but Tanishq was envisioned as a luxury jewellery brand for young Indians. Though it made losses for years as Indians are traditionalists when it comes to buying gold, Ratan Tata refused to shut it down, contrary to advice from all his peers, and it eventually became one of the market leaders in India. (Juggernaut, 2024)
Read an excerpt: How Tanishq broke into the bridal jewellery market in India
‘The Creation of Wealth’ by R.M. Lala
Books about the Tata Group are a dime a dozen but this 2006 history of the group from the 19th century to the present day remains a classic. While the early years tell the story of intrepid entrepreneurship and commitment to nation-building, the Ratan Tata years delve into the challenges the group faced in the post-liberalisation era when competition and resistance to change came from within and outside. (Penguin, 2006)
‘#TataStories’ by Harish Bhat
Long-time Tata chronicler and former brand custodian of the group, Harish Bhat spent years in the company's archives to tell 40 inspiring stories of its various leaders, both the professional managers and the family members. Business history meets rich storytelling in this book that places Ratan Tata firmly in the centre of the group's legacy. (Penguin, 2021)
Read an excerpt: When J.R.D. Tata fixed toilet rolls of his Air India flight
‘The Story of Tata’ by Peter Casey
The only authorized biography of the Tata Group, its focus is largely on the Ratan Tata years, including Tata-Mistry legal battle. Ratan Tata himself has spent hours with Casey, whose 2014 book looked at the group's philanthropic activities, and shared private photographs of the Tata family. Business insiders also tell Casey about the unique challenges and opportunities the company faced in India and abroad, including its acquisitions and new businesses. (Penguin, 2023)
'Tata's Leadership Experiment' by Bharat Wakhlu, Mukund Rajan and Sonu Bhasin
JRD Tata came up with the idea of an exclusive management cadre for the Tata Group, the Tata Administrative Service, in the 1950s to focus on business integrity and corporate responsibility. While the book is about leadership choices and lessons, it is an indicator of why ethics was central to Ratan Tata's style of working. (Harper Collins, 2022)
The Tata Story: 150 Years (1868-2018)
This 30-page illustrated comic from Amar Chitra Katha narrates the story of the Tata group with historical accuracy but in an easy-to-read, child-friendly format. It’s also perfect for adults who don’t want to wade through thousands of words about the many companies in the group and their origin stories. It’s available for free download as a PDF on the company website.
‘The Tatas: How a Family Built a Business and a Nation’ by Girish Kuber
Originally written in Marathi and translated by Vikrant Pande, this book goes back to 1822 and Navsari, the Gujarat town where Jamsetji’s father, Nusserwanji Tata was born, providing background on the decades before the group was founded. With a focus on the way the group nurtured its workforce, whether in the factories or the coporate office, it provides a clear timeline of growth from the days of cotton and opium trading to Ratan Tata’s foray into IT, passenger cars and more. (Harper Collins, 2020)
