Here’s What Ratan Tata Responded When Asked About Mukesh Ambani’s Luxury House Antilia

Ratan Tata, a well-known Indian industrialist, is the chairman of Tata Sons and the trustee of Tata Motors’ charity trusts. Ratan Tata, who was awarded the Padma Vibhushan (2008) and the Padma Bhushan (2000), presided over the Tata Group from 1990 to 2012 and is frequently cited as one of the most illustrious businessmen in Indian history.

Ratan Tata has inspired generations with his work to enhance our country via his philanthropic activities, humble lifestyle, and constant message of giving back to society.

Ratan Tata, 84, nevertheless imparts knowledge to society through his interviews and body language when he appears in public. The businessman was also quite open about his job and had never gotten involved in any controversy.

However, a well-known event occurred back in 2011, when Ratan Tata expressed his opinions about fellow businessman Mukesh Ambani’s lifestyle of living in a lavish home valued at Rs. 15,000 crores, which earned him both love and wrath. So, let’s find out what he actually said, which divides opinions.

Ratan Tata’s opinion on Mukesh Ambani’s opulent lifestyle divides opinions

It was back in May 2011 when Indian business magnate Ratan Tata spoke candidly about fellow businessman Mukesh Ambani’s opulent lifestyle in an interview with The Times.

In response to Mukesh Ambani’s residence in a 27-story building in Mumbai valued at Rs. 15,000 crores, Ratan Tata was asked for his opinion.

In response, Ratan Tata, who prefers to live modestly, said that economic disparity in India is unparalleled and that the nation needs its wealthy people to donate a little of their immense riches to the advancement of the poor. He said,

“It makes me wonder why someone would do that. That’s what revolutions are made of. The person who lives in there should be concerned about what he sees around him and [asking] can he make a difference.”

He said,

“If he is not, then it’s sad because this country needs people to allocate some of their enormous wealth to finding ways of mitigating the hardship that people have. We are doing so little about the disparity. We are allowing it to be there and wishing it away.”

When Ratan Tata’s comments on the income gap in India were made public in relation to his fellow business mogul, Mukesh Ambani, they sparked a heated debate.

Although some media accounts indicated that Ratan Tata had charged Mukesh Ambani with failing to give back to society, others theorized that Ratan Tata had been envious of Mukesh Ambani’s opulent home, Antilia.

He, however, had garnered a great deal of support and praise from the public throughout this issue for his claim that Indian billionaires were not doing enough to aid the underprivileged in all spheres and segments of society.

Tata Company responded to the uproar over Ratan Tata’s alleged remarks about Indian businessmen

But as the situation in the media became more problematic, a Tata Sons spokesperson jumped up and said that Ratan Tata’s statements had been sensationalised by the Indian media. The spokesperson had clarified that Mukesh Ambani house Antilia, was not the subject of Ratan Tata’s comments.

According to the spokesperson:

“We would also like to clarify on stories in Indian media regarding Mr Ambani’s home. The report is out of context and factually incorrect. Mr Tata’s comments on wealth are in the larger context of the growing disparity in society. The comments seem to have been deliberately sensationalised.”

What do you think about this controversy?