Ratan Tata, one of India’s most revered industrialists, was known for his leadership skills, philanthropic work and unassuming charm. But even as a business tycoon with an empire to his name, Tata had to contend with the peculiarities of the digital age, including the viral spread of a quote he never uttered.
One such quote, attributed to him, was fact-checked by Tata when asked his philosophy behind it – he never said the words.
In a 2015 interview, Tata clarifies his stance to an interviewer at an event in Paris who credited him with a popular quote: "I don't believe in taking right decisions. I take decisions and make them right."
With a smile, Tata corrected the anchor, saying, “I'm sorry, but Facebook or Twitter made that statement. It was never made by me.”
The interviewer, surprised, said “this is awkward” amid laughs from the audience.
Tata was quick to point out that there’s little one can do to combat such viral misattributions.
“It has been a default statement. You come to know of it when people read them back to you. And there's no remedial action that you can take with social media. And so you live with it,” he said.
Tata added: “Some people think it's arrogant for you to have stated that, and you don't have a chance to defend yourself by saying you never did. And some people think it's a great thing to say, and you quietly keep quiet.”
The exchange revealed Tata’s ability to handle misconceptions with grace, while reflecting on the impact of social media. The quote, which gained traction online, has often been attributed to him on social media.
A video of the interaction is going viral on social media again.
Ratan Tata, the Chairman Emeritus of the Tata Group, died on October 9 at 86 in Mumbai.
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