ET Awards: Small things mattered more for defender of the defenceless, says N Chandrasekaran

N Chandrasekaran, who joined the Tata Group in 1986 as an intern about four decades ago, with the dream of shaking hands with Ratan Tata. Chandrasekaran ended up succeeding him as chairman of Tata Sons in 2017.

In his tribute to the late Tata Group patriarch, Chandrasekaran said, «For him, the small things mattered more. He paid close attention not only to people with the big ideas but what also mattered was his attention to the small things. He cared for the people who could not defend themselves and what set him apart was that he was a defender of the defenceless. I have seen it on so many occasions that he never said anything just for the sake of it and never acted upon anything for the sake of it.»

The ET Awards jury had decided unanimously to bestow a special Jewel of India honour on Ratan Tata, who died in October last year, for his stellar leadership of the Tata Group as well as business and industry in general, while being staunchly dedicated to philanthropic pursuits. Chandrasekaran said he was fortunate not only to grow in the group and succeed Tata but also to work with him closely and become his friend.

When Chandrasekharan took over as chairman, he wanted to renovate Bombay House, the Tata Group's headquarters, but was warned against it. However, when he went up to Ratan Tata, all he wanted to know was where the seven dogs that sheltered there would go if the office were temporarily relocated. «He was very reassured when I promised him that post the renovation, we would bring them back to a specially