On December 28, 2024, the birth anniversary of the late industrialist and philanthropist Ratan Tata, a special grove named the Ratan Tata Memorial Forest will be launched by the social enterprise Grow-Trees.com. The project, initiated by Geeta Gopalakrishnan who served as an honorary fundraiser for cancer patients at the Tata Medical Centre, Kolkata aims to honor Ratan Tata’s legacy of compassion and service.
According to a report by CSR Journal, As part of the project, four lakh trees will be planted across 17 villages in Nainital and six in Almora, Uttarakhand, under the ‘Trees+ for the Himalayas’ initiative. The memorial forest will symbolize Tata’s deep commitment to the environment and philanthropy.
The year-long campaign, running until December 28, 2025, invites individuals and corporations to dedicate trees and write tributes to the Ratan Tata Memorial Forest. Additionally, the memorial forest will include the creation of 23 water bodies to store and recharge groundwater. It will also focus on educating rural girls and training farmers in climate-resilient agricultural practices. Tree species such as Himalayan Mulberry, Jamun, White Willow, Indian Horse Chestnut, and Purple Orchid will be planted to restore biodiversity and enhance the environment.
Born on December 28, 1937, in Mumbai to Naval and Soonoo Tata, Ratan Tata was raised by his grandmother Navajbai Tata after his parents separated. He studied architecture and engineering at Cornell University, graduating in 1962.
Starting as an assistant at Tata Industries, Tata later worked at Telco (now Tata Motors) and Tisco (now Tata Steel). He became chairman of Tata Sons in 1991, leading the group until 2012. Under his leadership, the Tata Group expanded globally, launching cars like the Tata Nano and Indica and acquiring brands such as Tetley, Jaguar Land Rover, and Corus.
