Cornell University paid tribute to its esteemed alumnus Ratan Tata, who passed away at the age of 86 at a hospital in Mumbai on Wednesday night. He was not just Cornell's largest international donor but also a massive figure in philanthropy working toward several initiatives geared toward reducing rural poverty and malnutrition in India besides advancing technological innovation.
The contributions of Tata to the university were very profound. As a trustee, he made historic donations that supported scholarships and technological advancement, giving an indelible mark to Cornell's community. In the official statement, the university declared deep sorrow over his demise while honoring his legacy through high contributions toward education and innovation.
"Ratan Tata has left an extraordinary legacy in India, around the world, and at Cornell, which he cared about deeply", said Interim President Michael I. Kotlikoff. He noted that Tata's "quiet demeanor and humility belied his international profile". Kotlikoff said further that Tata's generosity and concern for others put the machinery of research and scholarship into motion-one that improved the education and health of millions worldwide and extended Cornell's influence across the world.
Ratan Tata entered Cornell in 1959 as a mechanical engineering major, switching over to architecture after two years. In the case of Ratan Tata, he did not follow a career in architecture; instead, he re-joined the family business as an apprentice at Tata Steel. His architectural education, however, did not just make him conscious of designing things, but also instilled in him a broad-minded, multifaceted look at problems, and creative ways of solving them. His was a unique perspective, which enabled him to go up the corporate ladder and proved worthwhile his time at Cornell.
"When Ratan Tata graduated from Cornell with a degree in architecture, it would have been impossible to imagine the global impact his visionary leadership, philanthropy, and commitment to humanity would go on to have advancing education and research across many sectors", said AAP Dean J. Meejin Yoon.
In addition to his studies, Tata was actively engaged with Cornell. He has served three terms as trustee from 2006 to 2022, and he has also been elected Cornell's Entrepreneur of the Year in 2013. Since 2014, he sat on AAP's Advisory Council, enriching the academic environment of the university.
His philanthropy is there in wide-ranging gifts given to Cornell. In 2008, a gift of $50 million from Tata Trusts also established the Tata-Cornell Institute for Agriculture and Nutrition. It deals with long-term research initiatives. It also funded the Tata Scholarship that would help students hailing from India. In 2017, Tata Consultancy Services invested $50 million in a deal in which the Tata Innovation Center was completed on Cornell Tech's campus on Roosevelt Island in New York City.
This year, 89 Indian students were awarded the Tata scholarship, of whom 305 have been so far. The campus emphasizes attracting talent from 'non-feeder' schools to enhance the university's profile and accessibility.
Although he never married or had children, Tata held Cornell dear and continued to attend trustee gatherings and reunions. Looking back on his years at the university, Tata said in 2009, "Getting through Cornell gave me a sense of achievement. Those years at Cornell were probably the best investment that one could have made in time", His legacy will live on for generations of students and scholars to come at Cornell and beyond.
