The prestigious Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice 2024 was posthumously bestowed upon Ratan N. Tata by the Mumbai-based Harmony Foundation, in recognition of his lifelong dedication to philanthropy, nation-building, and humanitarian ideals. The award highlights Mr Tata’s compassionate leadership that extended far beyond his role in business.
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The award ceremony, held on November 10 at Hotel Sofitel in Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai, was attended by Siddharth Sharma, CEO, Tata Trusts, who accepted the award on behalf of Mr Tata. Mr Sharma shared his heartfelt reflections on Mr Tata’s legacy making a special mention of “his extraordinary grace and humility in spite of all his achievements”.
In his speech, Siddharth Sharma highlighted that Mr Tata was “completely committed to nation building”, with special focus, in recent years, on public health, skilling the youth of the nation, and animal welfare. He spoke of Mr Tata’s dedication to accessible healthcare, specifically on India’s need for cancer care, citing the opening of nearly 20 cancer hospitals in Assam. These hospitals along with many others supported by the Trusts, offer high-quality, affordable care and are a testament of Mr Tata's commitment to improving public health.
Mr Sharma also spoke about Mr Tata’s vision for India’s youth, referring to the establishment of Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) campuses that have come up in Mumbai and Ahmedabad. An initiative of the Government, supported by the Tata Trusts, the Institutes aim to bridge the employability gap by equipping India’s youth with industry-relevant skills. The Mumbai IIS campus was recently inaugurated and dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
The Small Animal Hospital in Mumbai, the first of its kind in the country, Mr Sharma mentioned, embodies Mr Tata’s dedication to ensuring animals receive the highest standards of care.
The Mother Teresa Memorial Awards for Social Justice, endorsed by the Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity, Kolkata, annually recognise exemplary contributions to humanity. Past awardees have included Nobel Laureates such as the Dalai Lama, Malala Yousafzai, and Kailash Satyarthi, along with other inspiring figures dedicated to community development and global good. The 2024 theme, ‘Humanity in Action’, celebrates those who, like Mother Teresa lead lives devoted to the upliftment of society. In honouring Mr Tata, the Harmony Foundation not only celebrates his enduring philanthropic legacy but also commemorates his commitment to serve humanity with humility and transformative impact.
The award was conferred by the Harmony Foundation, founded in 2005 by Dr Abraham Mathai. The foundation is committed to unity and inclusivity and actively addresses societal challenges posed by divisions based on religion, caste, and creed, promoting peaceful coexistence in today’s complex social landscape.
