Bhavish Aggarwal, the founder of Ola Electric Mobility Ltd., expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Ratan Tata, the former chairman of Tata Group, while reflecting on the significant role Tata played in his entrepreneurial journey. Tata, widely revered for his contributions to Indian industry, passed away earlier this week.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Aggarwal shared his grief, stating, “I’m at a loss with Ratan Tata sir’s passing. His loss feels so personal because it is for me. He was my hero growing up, like for so many others.”
Aggarwal recalled multiple interactions with the industry titan, describing each meeting as an invaluable learning experience. He first encountered Tata as a guest speaker during his convocation at IIT Bombay in 2008. “I was a young kid but his words that day stayed with me—to serve one’s country,” he reflected.
Years later, Tata became an investor in Ola, marking the beginning of a series of insightful exchanges between the two. “But my interactions with him didn’t end there. They had just begun,” Aggarwal shared.
“Tata was like no other business leader I have ever met. He took a personal interest in my journey. And in every interaction, there was grace, humility, curiosity and a world of learning for me.”
Ratan Tata played a pivotal role in the founding of Ola Electric, Aggarwal revealed. The former Tata Group chairman was passionate about the future of electric vehicles (EVs) and had been working on a project to electrify the Tata Nano in Coimbatore. “That was the day Ola Electric really got started—as he ignited the passion for EVs and cars in me!” Aggarwal recalled.
Aggarwal also mentioned his last meeting with Tata, which took place a year ago when he shared the news of Ola Electric’s upcoming IPO. “He was frail but his enthusiasm for cars was as high as ever, and his encouragement for me was as strong as ever.”
Concluding his tribute, Aggarwal said, “I will deeply miss him. India will deeply miss him. And there will be no one like him again.”