Industry leaders, politicians and the general public paid tribute to Ratan Tata, the former chairman of India's Tata Sons, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 86.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post on

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, recalled his meeting with Tata where they discussed Google's self-driving car project.

“He leaves behind an exceptional business and philanthropic legacy and was instrumental in mentoring and developing modern corporate governance in India,” Pichai wrote on X.

Tata, who is credited with bringing his company to global prominence through several high-profile acquisitions including that of Jaguar-Land Rover in 2008, was reportedly in intensive care at a hospital in Mumbai.

“Ratan Tata's death is a great loss, not just for the Tata Group but for every Indian,” Mukesh Ambani, India's richest person and chairman of oil retailer Reliance Industries, said in a post on X.

“Mr Tata took India to the world and brought the best of the world to Bharat.”

Tata, who earned a degree in architecture from Cornell University in 1962, joined the family business that same year. He was known for his charity and was chairman of Tata Trusts, one of India's largest charities.

N. Chandrasekaran, current chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company of conglomerate Tata Group, expressed his condolences in a statement on the company's website: “Mr. Tata's commitment to philanthropy and the development of society has touched the lives of millions of people. “From education to health care, his initiatives have left a deep-rooted impact that will benefit future generations.”

Tata has reportedly been instrumental in around 60 acquisitions that helped the group expand globally.

“With an unwavering commitment to excellence, integrity and innovation, the Tata Group, under his leadership, has expanded its global presence while always remaining true to its moral compass,” Chandrasekaran added.

Gautam Adani, chairman of the Adani Group, called Tata “a giant, a visionary who redefined the path of modern India.”

“Ratan Tata was not just a business leader – he embodied the spirit of India with integrity, compassion and an unwavering commitment to the common good,” Adani wrote on X.

Anand Mahindra, The chairman of India's Mahindra Group, which competes with the Tata Group in the automotive sector, expressed sadness over the death of Ratan Tata at a time when India's economy appears to be shifting into a higher gear.

“India’s economy is on the cusp of a historic leap forward. And Ratan’s life and work have a lot to do with the fact that we find ourselves in this situation,” Mahindra wrote on X.

“He was a businessman for whom financial wealth and success were most useful when put to the service of the global community,” Mahindra said.

The chief minister of Maharashtra, where the Tata Group is headquartered in Mumbai, said Tata would be given a state funeral – an honor reserved primarily for the most senior government officials – and called him a “priceless gem,” according to a CNBC translation of his post “. X in Hindi.

Tata was chairman of Tata Sons from 1991 to December 2012. According to the company, the group's revenue grew to over $100 billion under his leadership.