A newly released biography has unveiled a heartwarming chapter from the life of industrialist Ratan Tata, detailing his reunion with his first love, Caroline Emmons, nearly five decades after their breakup.
In the 1960s, during his time studying in the United States, Ratan Tata fell in love with Caroline Emmons, the 19-year-old daughter of Frederick Earl Emmons, an architect and a business associate of Tata’s father. The two families were closely connected through the architecture firm “Jones & Emmons,” co-founded by Frederick and Ratan’s father.
According to Caroline, their connection was immediate. “I liked Ratan at first sight,” she shared in Ratan Tata: A Life, a biography by Thomas Mathew. Caroline’s parents also admired Ratan, but their budding romance was soon tested by unforeseen circumstances.
In July 1962, Ratan returned to India to visit his ailing grandmother, intending to reunite with Caroline later. However, on October 20, 1962, the India-China war broke out, creating geopolitical tensions and making it difficult for Caroline to follow him to India as planned.
Despite their intentions, the couple parted ways. Caroline later married Owen Jones, an architect and pilot, and started a family. Reflecting on her past, Caroline noted, “Ironically, I married a man who was quite similar to Ratan.” After her husband’s passing in 2006, memories of her time with Ratan resurfaced.
In 2007, Caroline watched The Darjeeling Limited, a film about three brothers on an emotional journey in India. The movie stirred old memories, prompting her to search for Ratan Tata online. She discovered that he had risen to prominence as the Chairman of Tata Sons and Tata Trust.
Reaching out via email, Caroline expressed her interest in visiting India. The following year, she spent five weeks in the country and reconnected with Ratan in Delhi. Their meetings rekindled a bond that had withstood the test of time.
Over the years, Caroline became a regular visitor to India. She attended Ratan’s 80th birthday celebration in Mumbai on December 28, 2017, and met him again during her subsequent trips. Ratan, in turn, made it a point to take Caroline out for dinner whenever he visited the U.S., showing the deep respect and affection they still shared.
