Ratan Tata met Carolyne Jones, through her father’s architectural firm after he completed his degree in architecture from the Cornell University in 1962.
Ratan Tata, the late Chairman Emeritus of Tata Group, remained a bachelor, and though he was romantically involved with different women at various points in his life, including a much-publicised affair with former actress Simi Garewal, there was one woman he fell in love with, and wanted to marry, a new autobiography of the veteran industrialist has revealed.
During an interview with journalist Barkha Dutt, Mathew revealed that Ratan Tata met Carolyne, through her father’s architectural firm after he completed his degree in architecture from the Cornell University in 1962.
“There was this gentleman called Archibald Quincy Jones. He was one of this external invigilators of Ratan. So, before Ratan left or at least planned to leave the US after graduation in 1962—you know, the polite man that he is—he picked up the phone to thank Archibald Jones. He (Jones) told him (Ratan) that in case he was coming to Los Angeles to see him (Jones),” the author recalled
After his conversation with Jones, Ratan went to meet him with his thesis, which impressed the former, following which Jones offered a job to the future Tata Sons Chairman.
How Ratan Tata met Carolyne Jones?
According to Mathew, Ratan Tata was thrilled by the job offer and cancelled his plans to travel to India. Soon, during his frequent meetings with Archibald Jones, he met Carolyne Emmons. Her father was a partner in Jones’ firm and introduced Carolyne to Ratan Tata.
The author notes that Carolyne was lovestruck in her meeting with Ratan and could not take her eyes off him. “When her father introduced her to Ratan, she said she couldn’t utter a word as she looked at Ratan. She was completely speechless and then started an amazing love story,” he writes.
Why Ratan Tata and Carolyne separated?
But destiny, it seems had other plans, as Ratan Tata was forced to return to India after his grandmother, Lady Navajbai Tata, fell ill. It is often claimed that Navajbai asked Ratan Tata to return to India which led to the end of his romance with Carolyne. However, others the authors busts this myth, asserting that Ratan Tata chose to return because he loved his grandmother, not because Navajbai asked her to.
“Ratan referred to Navajbai Tata as My G. He was very possessive of her and said she was all he had. She didn’t ask Ratan to come back to India. Navajbai knew Ratan considered the United States his second home and did not ask him to return even when she became ill. Ratan chose to come back because it was very important for him to be with his grandmother,” Mathew said.
The biographer revealed that Carolyne was supposed to follow Ratan Tata to India but could not do so because of the 1962 Indo-China war which broke out after Tata’s return to India.
“In those days, Americans considered the subcontinent a dangerous place. They couldn’t wrap their head around all the chaos. Carolyne was scared to come to India, and later confessed to me that she regretted not coming after Ratan.” he revealed.
Carolyne’s love for Ratan never died
After separating from Ratan Tata, Carolyne, who was only 19 at the time, fell in love with another man, who she recalled was “exactly like Ratan, was an architect and a flyer”. “Carolyne’s father told her that she was on a rebound,” Mathew said. A few years later, Ratan Tata travelled to US to meet Carolyne but found out she was married and carrying her second child at the time.
Ratan took Carolyne her husband out on dinner and later told her that he was happy she was living a happy life, and promised not to call her again… and never did till her husband was alive, according to Mathew.
After her husband passed away, Carolyne called Ratan Tata and the two former lovers got in touch again after decades and rekindled their friendship. Caroline visited India every year and stayed at Ratan Tata’s home. “Her love for Ratan had never,” the author said, recalling that Carolyne had once told him how she preserved for years, the torn page of a book that had Ratan’s picture.