Mumbai bid a final farewell to Simone Tata, a revered figure in Indian business and philanthropy, on Saturday. Family, friends, and prominent associates gathered at the Cathedral of the Holy Name in the upscale Colaba neighbourhood to pay their last respects. Mrs. Tata, the mother of Tata Trusts chairperson Noel Tata and stepmother to former Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata, passed away on Friday after a brief illness. She was 95 years old.
A Life of Enterprise and Impact
Born Simone Dunoyer in Geneva in 1930, her connection to India began in 1953 when she first visited the country. It was during this trip that she met Naval Tata, father of the late Ratan Tata. The couple married in 1955, and Simone Tata embraced her role as stepmother to Ratan Tata and later as mother to their son, Noel Tata.
Her illustrious corporate journey is a testament to her vision. She joined the board of Lakmé in 1962 and ascended to the role of chairperson in the early 1980s. Under her stewardship, Lakmé grew into India's leading cosmetic brand. Following the strategic sale of Lakmé to Hindustan Unilever in 1996, she demonstrated remarkable foresight by channeling the proceeds into launching Trent Ltd., which marked the Tata Group's formal foray into fashion retail with the now-ubiquitous Westside chain.
Final Tributes from Corporate India
The funeral service at the Cathedral, the Mother Church of the Archdiocese of Bombay, saw a gathering of India's corporate elite. Among those present to honour her memory were:
- Shapoor Mistry of the SP Group
- Saurabh Agrawal and TV Narendran of Tata Sons
- Jamshyd Godrej of Godrej Enterprises Group
- Praveer Sinha of Tata Power
Tata Sons chairperson N. Chandrasekaran, who was travelling, could not attend the service.
Leaving a Lasting Legacy
Simone Tata is survived by her son Noel Tata, daughter-in-law Aloo Mistry, and grandchildren Leah, Maya, and Neville. Her legacy is firmly etched in both the boardroom and the realm of social good.
The Tata Group acknowledged her immense contributions in a statement, noting she would be remembered for building Lakmé and laying the foundation for fashion retail with Westside. Beyond business, she actively guided the work of several philanthropic organisations, including the Sir Ratan Tata Institute.
Simone Tata's life story is one of transformative leadership—from Geneva to the heart of the Tata empire in Mumbai, she carved a unique path that blended entrepreneurial acumen with a deep commitment to philanthropy, leaving an indelible mark on Indian industry and society.
