Tributes from business leaders, politicians and the general public at giant poured in for Ratan Tata, the previous chairman of India’s Tata Sons, who handed away on Wednesday, aged 86.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a publish on X known as Tata “a visionary enterprise chief, a compassionate soul and a unprecedented human being … his contribution went far past the boardroom.”

Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai recalled his assembly with Tata the place they mentioned Google’s self-driving automotive undertaking.

“He leaves a unprecedented enterprise and philanthropic legacy and was instrumental in mentoring and growing the fashionable enterprise management in India,” Pichai wrote on X.

Tata, who’s credited with taking his enterprise home international through a number of high-profile acquisitions together with that of Jaguar-Land Rover in 2008, was reportedly in intensive care in a Mumbai hospital.

“Ratan Tata’s passing away is an enormous loss, not simply to the Tata Group, however to each Indian,” Mukesh Ambani, India’s richest particular person and chairman of the oil-to-retail conglomerate Reliance Group, mentioned in a publish on X.

“Mr Tata took India to the world and introduced the very best of the world to Bharat.”

Tata, who earned an structure diploma from Cornell College in 1962, joined the household enterprise the identical 12 months. He was identified for his philanthropy and was chairman of Tata Trusts, amongst India’s largest charity organizations.

N. Chandrasekaran, the present chairman of Tata Sons, the holding firm of conglomerate Tata Group, expressed his condolence in an announcement on the corporate’s web site: “Mr. Tata’s dedication to philanthropy and the event of society has touched the lives of thousands and thousands. From schooling to well being care, his initiatives have left a deep-rooted mark that can profit generations to come back.”

Tata reportedly was instrumental in about 60 acquisitions that helped the group increase globally.

“With an unwavering dedication to excellence, integrity, and innovation, the Tata Group beneath his stewardship expanded its international footprint whereas all the time remaining true to its ethical compass,” Chandrasekaran added.

Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani known as Tata “an enormous, a visionary who redefined fashionable India’s path.”

“Ratan Tata wasn’t only a enterprise chief — he embodied the spirit of India with integrity, compassion and an unwavering dedication to the larger good,” Adani wrote on X.

Anand Mahindra, chairman of India’s Mahindra Group, which competes with Tata Group within the autos sector, expressed sorrow over Ratan Tata’s demise at a time when the Indian financial system seems set to shift into greater gear.

“India’s financial system stands on the cusp of a historic leap ahead. And Ratan’s life and work have had a lot to do with our being on this place,” Mahindra wrote on X.

“He was a businessman for whom monetary wealth and success was most helpful when it was put to the service of the worldwide group,” Mahindra mentioned.

The chief minister of Maharashtra, residence to Tata Group’s headquarters in Mumbai, mentioned Tata can be accorded a state funeral — an honor reserved largely for the best authorities functionaries — calling him an “invaluable gem,” in keeping with a CNBC translation of his publish on X in Hindi.

Tata was the chairman of Tata Sons from 1991 till December 2012. The group’s income soared previous $100 billion beneath his management, in keeping with the corporate.