Ratan Tata, the former chairman of the Tata Group, passed away on Wednesday night at the age of 86, marking the end of an era for Indian business. Despite his immense success and numerous contributions to the industry and society, some dreams remained unfulfilled. On the first anniversary of his death, October 9, 2025, it's fitting to reflect on some of the aspirations that remained close to his heart but never fully materialized.

The 'People's Car' Dream: Tata Nano

Ratan Tata envisioned a car for the average Indian family, leading to the creation of the Tata Nano, the world's most affordable car. However, the Nano faced numerous market challenges and failed to meet sales expectations, leaving Ratan Tata with a sense of unfulfillment. Despite its innovative design and affordability, the Nano was plagued by safety concerns and marketing missteps, ultimately leading to the end of its production a decade later.

An Architect's Heart

Ratan Tata graduated with a degree in Architecture from Cornell University in 1959 and even worked as an architect for two years. In an interview, he revealed that architecture was his passion, but he had to study engineering due to his father's wishes. Although he achieved great success in the corporate world, he regretted not being able to stay in his chosen profession longer.

The String Instrument

Despite managing a business worth billions, Ratan Tata had a dream of learning a string instrument like the violin. However, he could never buy it due to its high price and his habit of not spending lavishly on himself. He mentioned this unfulfilled dream in an interview, stating that he never made a habit of spending more money on himself.

Global Education for Indian Youth

Ratan Tata was always keen to provide and promote world-class education to Indian youth, believing that higher education is the key to the country's progress. Although the Tata Group has been helping students through various trusts and scholarship schemes, limited access remained a concern for him. He felt that the gap between the demand and actual supply of world-class education and opportunities is vast and difficult to fill through philanthropy alone.

Companionship and Love

Despite his professional achievements, Ratan Tata remained a bachelor throughout his life. In a candid interview, he admitted that he had been close to marriage on several occasions but never married. He confessed that he sometimes felt lonely and yearned for a wife or family. While he appreciated the freedom of being single, he also acknowledged that loneliness weighed heavily on him at times. He also reminisced about his first love, which blossomed while he was living in Los Angeles, but fate intervened when he had to return to India.