The award ceremony was held at Ratan Tata's Residence in Mumbai Source: Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS)
Renowned industrialist and philanthropist Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus of the Tata Group, was honoured with the prestigious KISS Humanitarian Award 2021 on Monday. The award ceremony was held at his residence in Mumbai, marking a significant recognition of his commitment to social development and exemplary corporate leadership.
The ceremony was attended by N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Group and three-time Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej, among others. The award was presented by Achyuta Samanta, the Founder of KIIT and KISS. Due to health reasons, Tata has been avoiding public appearances, leading to the private arrangement of the ceremony at his home.
Ratan Tata, usually reticent about accepting accolades, agreed to accept this award following a personal request from Achyuta Samanta, recognising the importance of the KISS humanitarian honour. The award was announced in 2021, but he was unable to receive the award then because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his acceptance, Tata expressed his gratitude towards KISS and its founder.
“I am extremely happy to receive this honour. This is the most significant moment of my life”, he remarked.
"Ratan Tata is a revered name in India, and he is truly a good person. Being able to honour him today with this award is a privilege for us", said Samanta.
"Ratan Tata's social work and leadership have influenced me since childhood. I have respected and liked him from a young age. My father was an employee of Tata Group. Since then, I have respected and liked Ratan Tata. I was only four when my father died in a train accident," he said.
Initiated in 2008 by Achyuta Samanta, the KISS Humanitarian Award is the highest honour of KIIT and KISS dedicated to recognizing individuals and organizations that embody the spirit of humanitarian work worldwide.
Previous recipients of this prestigious award include a diverse group of global leaders, Nobel laureates, and notable figures from various sectors, showcasing the award's broad international appeal and respect.
On the occasion, around 40,000 students of KISS wished Ratan Tata a healthy, long and disease-free life.