Ratan Tata: A Life by Dr Thomas Mathew offers readers an in-depth look at one of India’s most iconic industrialists, Ratan Tata. This biography takes a comprehensive journey from Tata's lonely childhood to his rise as the chairman of Tata Sons in 1991 and his pivotal role as head of Tata Trusts, India’s largest philanthropic institution. Drawing on extensive interviews with Tata, his family, friends, and business associates, Mathew reveals previously unknown anecdotes and personal insights, capturing the life, challenges, and achievements of a man who shaped modern Indian industry. Thomas Mathew's three-decade friendship with Tata lends this biography an authentic perspective, revealing both the public and private facets of Ratan Tata’s extraordinary life. Thomas Mathew, a retired bureaucrat, served in key roles during his distinguished three-decade tenure in the Indian Administrative Service. A law graduate from Delhi University with a doctorate in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Mathew was instrumental in introducing transformative policies in the defence and finance ministries. His notable contributions include enabling unrestricted foreign direct investment in India’s defence sector and facilitating direct participation of foreign investors in the Indian equity market. Mathew’s association with Ratan Tata began about 30 years ago, rooted in shared interests, and their enduring connection provided unique insights into Tata’s life. His deep understanding of global policies and the corporate world uniquely positioned him to author this comprehensive biography. Watch Business Today Editor Siddharth Zarabi in conversation with Thomas Mathew, the author of 'Ratan Tata: A Life' and Former bureaucrat credited with pioneering changes in defence and Finance and a regular contributor to major newspapers on these and security issues. Watch Business Today Editor Siddharth Zarabi in conversation with Thomas Mathew, the author of Ratan Tata: A Life.