As the nation mourned the passing away of the legendary industrialist Ratan Naval Tata, hundreds and thousands of Mumbaikars on Thursday bade an emotional goodbye to the former Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, as his mortal remains - wrapped in national tri-colours - were taken on a 12 km final journey from the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) to Worli crematorium for his last rites.

After solemn prayers and rituals performed as per the Parsi traditions at a brief ceremony, Ratan Tata’s body was consigned to a combustion chamber at the Worli electric crematorium, amid full-State honours and a fun salute accorded by the Maharashtra government.

The funeral held at an electric crematorium reflected the changing traditions in the Parsi community members living in Mumbai who in the past would make it a point to consign the remains of their loved ones to the Tower of Silence, or Doongerwadi at Malabar Hill in south Mumbai.

Ratan Tata breathed his last at the Breach Candy Hospital at around 11.30 pm on Wednesday night, following age-related health conditions, after a week of media speculation about his worsening medical condition. A bachelor all his life, Tata was 86 at the time of his death.

Given that he had touched the people from all walks of life across the country, the news of Ratan Tata - who despite having built a Rs 3,800 crore Tata group’s business empire remained a humble man till the last day -  plunged the nation into a state of mourning, with people grieving his demise and speaking in glorious terms about his contributions to Indian industry and also nation-building.

While thousands of people turned out at the NCPA to pay their homage to the legendary industrialist, more than a couple of lakhs of people had either lined up along the 12 km funeral procession route from the NCPA to Worli crematorium or bade adieu from atop the buildings located along the route.     

Hours before his funeral, the Maharashtra Cabinet adopted a resolution at a special meeting, recommending to the Centre to confer Bharat Ratna, country’s highest civilian award, posthumously to Ratan Tata, who was bestowed with Padma Vibhushan by the Indian government in 2008. As a sign of State mourning, the national Tricolour on government offices in Maharashtra were flown at half-mast on Thursday.

Earlier, after his death on Wednesday night, the veteran industrialist’s body was taken from the Breach Candy Hospital to his Colaba residence in south Mumbai.

Later on Thursday morning, his mortal remains were taken from his house in a hearse, decked with white flowers, to the NCPA in south Mumbai, where it was kept between 10.30 am and 3.55 pm for letting people pay their last respects.

Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde, deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Industrialist Mukesh Ambani were among those who rushed to the Breach Candy Hospital shortly around midnight after hearing about Ratan Tata’s death.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday morning spoke with Ratan Tata’s brother, Noel Tata, and offered condolences to the bereaved family members of Tata. Earlier, in a tweet mourning Tata’s death, Modi wrote:Shri Ratan Tata Ji was a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being. He provided stable leadership to one of India’s oldest and most prestigious business houses”

“At the same time, his contribution went far beyond the boardroom. He endeared himself to several people thanks to his humility, kindness and an unwavering commitment to making our society better,” the Prime Minister added.

In her condolence message, President Droupadi Murmu said: “In the sad demise of Shri Ratan Tata, India has lost an icon who blended corporate growth with nation building, and excellence with ethics”.

“....he took forward the great Tata legacy and gave it a more impressive global presence. He inspired seasoned professionals and young students alike. His contribution to philanthropy and charity is invaluable,” Murmu wrote on “X”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended Ratan Tata’s funeral on behalf of the Government of India.

Industrialists Mukesh Ambani, who came along with his wife Nita, Anand Mahindra and Kumar Mangalam Birla were among the who is who of the India Inc -- that included heads of  leading business families like the Piramals, Godrejs, Hindujas, Mahendras and Bajajs  -- paid homage to the departed industrialists.

Apart from Shinde and Fadnavis, the prominent politicians who paid their last respects to Ratan Tata were NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, former chief minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Prithviraj Chavan and MNS chief Raj Thackeray. Cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar who enjoyed a wonderful rapport with the former Tata group head, was among those who paid homage to the legendary industrialist.

In a statement, the Congress said it “is deeply saddened by the passing of Padma Vibhushan Shri Ratan Tata, a titan of Indian industry and a philanthropist who shaped India’s corporate landscape.”.  Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul wrote on “X”: “Ratan Tata was a man with a vision. He has left a lasting mark on both business and philanthropy. My condolences to his family and the Tata community”.

Describing Ratan Tata as India’s one of most illustrious and kind-hearted sons, industrialist Mukesh Ambani said in his condolence message: “It is a very sad day for India and India Inc. Ratan Tata’s passing away is a big loss, not just to the Tata Group, but to every Indian”.

Earlier in a late night statement announcing the death of Ratan Tata, N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, said: “For the Tata Group, Mr. Tata was more than a chairperson. To me, he was a mentor, guide and friend. He inspired by example. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, integrity, and innovation, the Tata Group under his stewardship expanded its global footprint while always remaining true to its moral compass”.

Ratan Tata, who became chairman of the Tata conglomerate in 1991 and ran the group founded by his great-grandfather more than a hundred years ago until 2012. He was twice the Chairperson of the Tata Group conglomerate, from 1991 to 2012 and from 2016 to 2017.

Among other things, Tata founded telecommunications company Tata Teleservices in 1996 and took IT company Tata Consultancy Services public in 2004. When he was at the helm of affairs, Tata Group acquired iconic British car brands - Jaguar and Land Rover and delivered on his promise of manufacturing the world’s cheapest car which his group sold at an affordable Rs 1 lakh.

“India has lost a giant, a visionary who redefined modern India’s path. Ratan Tata wasn’t just a business leader - he embodied the spirit of India with integrity, compassion and an unwavering commitment to the greater good. Legends like him never fade away. Om Shanti,” industrialist Gautam Adani said, mourning Ratan Tata’s death.

Thousands of people from different walks of life, including politicians and corporate bigwigs, turned out at the NCPA to pay their last respects to the icon of the Indian Industry.