Dawn Images

Zoheb Hassan, one half of the iconic 80s pop duo Nazia and Zoheb, shared a heartwarming tribute to Ratan Tata, the Indian industrialist and former chairman of the Tata Group who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 86.

In a touching Facebook post, Zoheb reflected on his and his late sister Nazia’s first encounter with the man they did not realise was a titan of Indian industry.

In the early 80s, Tata reached out to the Hassan siblings, proposing a project that would transform the South Asian music scene. “Nazia and Zoheb, you have a telephone call from some gentleman by the name of Mr Ratan,” Zoheb’s mother had told them. Little did they know, this gentleman, who spoke so humbly on the phone, was about to help launch one of the duo’s most significant milestones — the groundbreaking album Young Tarang.

Zoheb recalled how Tata — without ever mentioning his vast accomplishments — approached them to record the album for CBS India. His humility was evident from the very start. “He had a gentle smile on his face and was extremely soft-spoken. He seemed so sincere when he spoke. We had no idea who he was, and he never bragged about himself,” Zoheb wrote, marvelling at how Tata insisted they have a lawyer and their parents review the agreement before proceeding.

Released when MTV had only launched in the USA, Young Tarang became a cultural phenomenon, producing some of the first music videos ever seen in South Asia. The album’s music videos were groundbreaking, receiving praise from MTV for their unique style.

Zoheb shared a particularly poignant memory of meeting Tata once again at the album’s launch at Mumbai’s Taj Hotel. Only then were they informed by CBS India’s Managing Director about Tata’s true stature in the business world. “Until then we had no idea who Mr Ratan was,” Zoheb admitted. Despite his immense power and wealth, Tata remained remarkably grounded.

Back when opulence was associated with success, Zoheb and Nazia were shocked when Tata invited them to his modest two-bedroom flat for dinner. The simplicity of his home, shared only with his sister, one servant, and his beloved Alsatian dog, stood in stark contrast to the empire he presided over. Zoheb described it as “a simple dinner with a great man, which to this day I will never forget.”

Their friendship continued over the years, Zoheb fondly remembered bumping into Tata on Bond Street in London. Even then, Tata’s modesty shone through, mentioning he was in the UK to “look at some aeroplanes.” Only later did Zoheb discover he was there to purchase planes for Air India, another enterprise Tata had once overseen.

In his tribute, Zoheb concluded, “Mr Tata was living proof that one can be an iconic businessman and still be a true gentleman. Dearly missed. RIP.”

Through Zoheb’s recollections, the world is reminded that behind Tata’s legendary business success was a man of simplicity, humility, and kindness — qualities that left an indelible mark on those who had the privilege to meet him.

Since his passing, many have paid similar tributes to him, including all of Bollywood’s finest. On Thursday, the man who transformed the Tata Group into a sprawling international enterprise was placed in a coffin draped in the Indian flag, and carried away to the sound of trumpets. Mumbai declared a day of mourning in his honour.