Ratan Tata conferred the degree of doctor of science (honoris causa) from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
March 18, 2008

Ratan N Tata, Chairman of the Tata Group, has been conferred the degree of doctor of science (honoris causa) by the senate and the board of governors of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, at its 50th annual convocation that was held recently. The award is to recognise his outstanding leadership in globalising India and transforming Tata Group as a company to reckon with, setting global benchmarks.

Presenting the award to Mr Tata, Damodar Acharya, director, IIT Kharagpur, said, "Mr Ratan N Tata is a towering figure in the Indian engineering industry. Throughout his career in various positions in the Tata Group of companies, he has set an unparalleled standard of excellence. With very few ever to emulate his scale of achievements, he symbolises India's entry into the global industrial map. Under his leadership, Tata Group has also emerged as one of the most respectable companies in the world, in terms of its contribution to corporate social responsibilities and philanthropy. As an individual, Mr Tata has a long commitment to social upliftment of disadvantaged people."

Acharya added, "When one day, in the not too distant future, India joins the league of developed nations, it will do so by riding on the shoulders of the likes of Mr Ratan N Tata. It gives the institute immense pride in honoring one of the worthiest sons of the land, especially because of his spectacular and path-breaking engineering achievements."

Every year, the institute makes attempt to honour industrialists, entrepreneurs, scientists and public figures. Some of the past recipients of this coveted award include Mother Teresa, Satyajit Roy, Mani Lal Bhowmik, Dr Suhas Patil, RP Goenka, Professor Raj Reddy, Dr Parveen Chaudhari, Professor CNR Rao, Professor GS Sanyal, and Dr Pallab Chatterjee, to name a few.

Mr Ratan N Tata has been the Chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, since 1991. He is also the Chairman of the major Tata companies including Tata Motors, Tata Steel, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Power, Tata Tea, Tata Chemicals, Indian Hotels, Tata Teleservices and Tata Auto Comp. During his tenure, the Group's revenues have grown over eight-fold to annualised Group revenues of over $50 billion.

The Government of India has announced that Mr Tata will be honoured with its second highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, later this year. Earlier, in 2000, he had been awarded the Padma Bushan. He has also been conferred an honorary doctorate in business administration by the Ohio State University, an honorary doctorate in technology by the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, an honorary doctorate in science by the University of Warwick, and an honorary fellowship by the London School of Economics.