The College of Architecture, Art and Planning (AAP) has established the Ratan N. Tata Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition of the decades-long philanthropy and global impact of the late Ratan Tata ’59, B.Arch. ’62, a former Cornell trustee, AAP Advisory Council member and renowned business leader.

Tata, who was chairman emeritus of Tata Sons and chairman of the Tata Trusts, died Oct. 9.

“Ratan Tata’s impact on Cornell was transformative,” Interim President Michael I. Kotlikoff said. “His generous contributions reflected Cornell’s core values and priorities, and his support of the university’s mission helped it evolve and advance over decades.”

Tata devoted much of his career to improving the lives of people in his home country of India and around the world.

“My years at Cornell in the College of Architecture, Art and Planning hold a special place in my heart – and the education I received has shaped my life and perspective in meaningful ways,” Tata said earlier this year, as plans around the award in his honor were being finalized. “It is incredibly gratifying to know that this award will serve to recognize others who use their Cornell education to build and create good in the world.”

Tata will be the inaugural recipient, posthumously, after which it will be given annually or biennially to AAP alumni who have gone on to demonstrate their unique vision and commitment to making a meaningful, positive impact on society. 

“Ratan possessed a profound concern and care for humanity,” said J. Meejin Yoon, the Gale and Ira Drukier Dean of AAP. “His personal dedication to improving lives through philanthropy in support of initiatives spanning education, research, health and the built environment is deeply inspiring.

“While his Cornell education was rooted in architecture, his life’s work has been expansive in scope and distinctly shaped by his inherent sense of responsibility and optimism. With the establishment of this award, we celebrate his legacy and the work of others who share a similar commitment to making positive change in the world,” Yoon said.

Tata enrolled at Cornell in 1955, initially in the College of Engineering, and later transferred to AAP. After graduating, he briefly worked as an architect in Los Angeles. Tata then returned to Mumbai, where he took a position with his family’s business, Tata Sons, the holding company for the Tata Group, with interests ranging from manufacturing, mobility and infrastructure to financial and digital services, consumer brands and hospitality. 

Tata worked his way up in Tata Sons and was ultimately appointed as chairman in 1991, a position he held until 2012. Under his leadership, the conglomerate experienced unprecedented growth and increased its influence, reaching $100 billion in revenues by the time of his retirement. He credited his Cornell training in architecture and design as a significant contributing factor to his success, helping to cultivate his problem-solving skills and arrive at creative and iterative solutions. 

Following his retirement in 2012, Tata became chairman of the Tata Trusts, which own a 66% stake in the Tata companies and are the largest private-sector philanthropic organization in India. The Tata Trusts’ mission is to improve the lives and livelihoods of people in India through investments in nutrition, education, water and sanitation, digital transformation, social justice and inclusion, among other areas of focus. 

“Ratan Tata’s visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to social responsibility have left an indelible mark on India and beyond,” said N. Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons. “He had a deep love for Cornell University, which played an important role in his uniquely remarkable journey. He found it very gratifying to know that this award in his name will help to celebrate and inspire innovation, excellence, and a strong commitment to social good.” 

Tata served on the Cornell Board of Trustees from 2006-22 and was a member of the AAP Advisory Council beginning in 2014. In 2008, the Tata Trusts made a significant commitment to Cornell establishing the Tata Scholarship for Students from India as well as the Tata-Cornell Institute for Agriculture and Nutrition, which advances collaborative research and outreach between scientists and practitioners in Ithaca and India to combat rural poverty and malnutrition in India. In 2017, Tata Consultancy Services, one of the largest companies within the Tata group, invested $50 million in Cornell Tech to support the campus’s first phase of construction on Roosevelt Island in New York City, naming the Tata Innovation Center. 

Beyond Cornell, Tata has served as a jury member for the Pritzker Architecture Prize and as a trustee of Alcoa, Mondelez International, the East-West Center, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and many other prominent institutions and organizations. His numerous awards include the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan, two of the highest civilian honors awarded by the government of India, and the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy. 

At a later date, AAP will host an inaugural Ratan N. Tata Distinguished Alumni Award ceremony honoring the life, legacy, generosity and tremendous impact of Tata’s humanitarian leadership and philanthropic contributions to Cornell and the world.

Edith Fikes is a content strategist for the College of Architecture, Art and Planning.