Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, on Friday, gave away the CII President’s award to Tata Group Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata for his remarkable contribution to industry and national building.
While speaking on the occasion, Mr. Chidambaram compared Mr. Tata with legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, saying that such men never retire. Mr. Tendulkar has announced his retirement, and his 200 test match, the last of his career, is underway here.
“When I walked into this room, I realised that Mr. Tata is as big a draw as Mr. Sachin. Men like Ratan do not retire, they just move on to discover new things to do,” the Finance Minister told a gathering of industrialists.
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“I admire him for his frugality, for being a man of few words, for creating wealth for millions of Indians and for many thousands across the world. I admire him for his passion to make a small car and his passion to make a new airline. There is a lesson for industry groups to take from what he has established,” Mr. Chidambaram said.
Mr Tata in his speech said, “Its been an exciting time for India and it’s been a great privilege to be part of that excitement. We gained valuable experience while working in the economy and industry for which I appreciate the efforts and functioning of the government and the Finance Minister. I remain optimistic about India’s economy.”
The award has been given to Mr. Tata for “redefining the Indian business model from individualisation to institutionalisation, from profit to community transformation and sustainability, for setting and converging the highest standards of business probity and ethics and the highest standards of personal morality and character and for innovating constantly,” said CII past President Adi Godrej.
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During the award ceremony, a film on Mr. Tata titled, ‘Ratan of Indian Industry’ was played.