Nilesh Mohite is a heartbroken man. He takes out the photograph of himself and of Ratan Tata and speaks of how he has lost his icon . The story, which has never been spoken about, never been chronicled, is of another act of quiet philanthropy of renowned business leader the world has lost — Ratan Tata. This is the story of how Mr. Tata quietly helped a Dalit artist when he had no means of livelihood, signed his paintings and even offered him a cheque for his work.
In 2022, when the world was still limping back to normalcy after COVID and lockdown, Mr. Tata called Mr. Mohite and said he would help him showcase his talent. The biggest break the artist got thereafter was an exhibition space at the iconic Taj Mahal Palace, in the vicinity of the art exhibits of greats like M.F. Husain, V.S. Gaitonde, Laxman Shrestha, Ram Kumar and Jehangir Sabavala. For Mr. Mohite, it was a dream come true. He couldn’t believe that he was to put up his paintings in the lobbies and rooms where he had, a few years ago, loitered around without anyone noticing him, to study the paintings of these greats.
“Getting space at the Taj Mahal Palace to exhibit my paintings for 12 days was the biggest opportunity I ever received. When he gave me the space, I touched his feet and told him that I will never be able to repay the debt. I feel indebted to him. I feel grateful to him. Though not much, but I get some work now. And it is all due to the blessings of Ratan Tata ji. The last time I met him was three months ago, when I requested him to take care of his health,” Mr. Mohite told Today News 24. He still lives in a small tenement in south Mumbai, looking for work as an artist.
Struggles in life
While talking about Mr. Tata, he feels nothing but gratitude for his hero, his icon. Talking of how he adulated Mr. Tata for years and how he met him, he narrates the story of his life’s struggles.
“From my school days, I wanted to do something for the country. I wanted to join the Army. I was an NCC leader when I was in my village. But poverty brought me to Mumbai, where I had to drop out of the school in Grade 9 due to financial distress. I had to start working then to provide for my family. I had lost my father when I was just five years old. And when I was in 9th grade, my mother had to undergo a surgery because of which she couldn’t work. I had to do odd jobs. But I was always passionate about art. And I had always admired Ratan Tata,” Mr. Mohite says.
When asked how he met the business leader, Mr. Mohite says, “…After I dropped out of school, I started standing outside Ratan Tata’s residence at times, just to show my respect to him. I admired him so much. Even when I used to do odd jobs, I used to read articles about him in Hindi and Marathi newspapers. I felt inspired by his struggle, his patriotism, his uprightness. I wanted to meet him. I wanted to give him my paintings. I used to wait at his gate. But I never had the courage to stop him or to speak with him. This went on for over a year and a half.”
A few years later, Mr. Mohite approached a prominent person from Colaba. “I knew he had good relations with Ratan Tata. So I told him that I wanted to gift him my paintings. Mr. Tata’s birthday was approaching then. So I made a painting of Tito and Tango, his two pet dogs. I used rotring ink for that painting. It is very difficult to paint with that ink. If you make even a minor mistake, you have to make a completely new painting,” Mr. Mohite said.
Ratan Naval Tata (1937-2024): Life and times in pictures
Ratan Tata became the chairman of Tata group in 1991. Tata received the baton J. R. D. Tata, his uncle, to an empire made-up of a disparate set of companies united only by name, literally.
(From left) Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Sons with Executive Vice-President P. A. Vandrevala and CEO of TCS S. Ramadurai at the inauguration of TCS’ Sholinganallur facility
near Chennai on March 25, 1999.
Ratan Tata with K.B.Dadiseth, the then Director of Indian Hotels Company Limited in Mumbai on August 26, 2000. The IHCL is the holding company for Tatas hotel business, which includes flagship Taj and affordable Ginger Hotels.
Ratan Tata with former West Bengal Chief Minister and Communist veteran Jyoti Basu on August 30, 2000. The Tatas had big plans to manufacture their affordable car Nano in West Bengal’s Singur. However, it failed after massive protests on land acquisition. Tata Nano was eventually rolled out from Sanand in Gujarat, and the Left Front lost power in the State.
Ratan Tata with CEO N.srinath, CEO of Tata Internet Services Limited at a press conference to announce the launch of Tata Nova Internet Services in Mumbai on March 1, 2001. Poineers in all
The former Union Minister for tourism and culture Ananth Kumar and Ratan Tata, exchanging the MoU signed for the upgradation of facilities at the Taj Mahal in New Delhi on June 21, 2001.
Ratan Tata receiving the CSIR Diamond Jubilee Technology Award from the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on September 13, 2004. Ratan Tata had shown his support to government when Manmohan Singh chaired as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014.
The former Union Minister for Information Technology and Communications Dayanidhi Maran (left), with Ratan Tata, and the Chairman of Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) Subodh Bhargava (right), at the TGN – VSNL integration ceremony in New Delhi on July 28, 2005.
Former President Pratibha Patil presenting the Padma Vibhushan Award to Ratan Naval Tata during the presentation of Padma Awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on May 10, 2008.
Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Motors, handing over the key of the first Nano car to Ashok Vichare and his family, in Mumbai on July 17, 2009. The Tata Nano, popularly called “1 lakh car”, was considered the “cheapest car”. It failed to impress the Indians and overall sales did not meet the expected target.
Ratan Tata group went in F/A 18 Super Hornet during the AERO INDIA 2011 at Yelahanka Airforce Station in Bangalore on February 10, 2011. Ratan Tata was a trained pilot and he had licenses to fly both jets and helicopters, showing his ever-growing passion towards aviation all his life.
Ratan Tata at the unveiling of world’s first ever gold jewellery car by Goldplus, a jewellery brand by Titan Industries in Mumbai on September 19, 2011.
Ratan Tata seen at the Jaguar stall at the Auto Expo 2012, in New Delhi on January 05, 2012. The Tata Group has scripted one of the most fabulous turnarounds in the auto industry and has been able to position the marquee British brands as formidable entities in the fiercely competitive global car market.
Ratan Tata being felicitated by Dr. Harshad Mangaldas Punjani while the Chief of and RSS Chief, Mohan Bhagwat applauds at an event organised by the Nana Palkar Smriti Samiti in Mumbai on August 24, 2018.
Tata first visited the RSS headquarters on December 28, 2016, his 79th birthday, while he was locked in a bitter boardroom battle with ousted Tata Group chairman Cyrus Mistry.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets Ratan Tata after his inaugural speech at 8th Global Summit in Gujarat on January 10, 2017. When Mr. Modi took over the rein in 2017, Ratan Tata was one of the business men to support the government. In 2015, Ratan Tata said, “there’s a great deal of hope in the inspirational leadership of Modi.”
Ratan Tata praying to Dwajasthambam at Tirumala temple on August 31, 2018
Indian industrialist Ratan Tata attends an event to receive a Doctor of Literature honorary title from the HSNC University in Mumbai on June 11, 2022. “The university believes that Ratan Tata reflects the philosophy of development, education and upliftment of all, which also resonates with the vision of HSNC University, Mumbai,” it said in a statement.
Ratan Tata’s love for pets, and particularly strays, extends far beyond the ones in the immediate vicinity of Bombay House. Legend has it that once Tata was moved to see a stray dog battling it out in the rain outside Bombay House, which led to the specific instruction on allowing full access to the premise for canines.
Industrialist Ratan Tata and Founder of Good Fellows Shantanu Naidu during the launch of India’s first companion start up for elders “Good fellows” at Taj President in Mumbai on August 16, 2022.
Policemen carry a coffin of the former chairman of Tata Group Ratan Tata before the funeral, in Mumbai on October 10, 2024.
The mortal remains of Ratan Tata arrived at the Worli crematorium after the final procession on October 10, 2024.
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Recollecting the day he handed over the painting to Mr. Tata, he said, “He liked it a lot. This was around 2018. The next year, in 2019, I made a painting showcasing India’s tradition. It was a 6 ft X 3 ft painting. I had shown the lifestyle of our kings, their beliefs and the way they used to go to war. He loved that painting too. But when I was showing it to him, I told him that I had some difficulty while making that painting. When he asked me the details, I told him that my house was a 10ft X 10ft room. After the bathroom, furnishings, kitchen placement, it left me with just a 3ft X 3ft space. When you paint a large painting, you need to lay it down to understand the light, the dimensions. But I didn’t have the luxury of space. So I had to roll the sheet and then paint. That was when he said he will help me.”
Mr. Tata met him four days later. And handed him an envelope with a cheque.
“I refused to take it. I handed it back to him without even taking a look. I told him, I gifted him the painting because of the love and respect I felt for him. And that I did not want any money for it. But I requested him for work as an artist. He told me, he didn’t have any work at the moment, but that he will help me.” The world shut down for almost two years after that, due to COVID and lockdown.
Follow LIVE updates from Ratan Tata’s funeral on October 10, 2024
And when it opened, Mr. Mohite was desperately looking for work. That is when Mr. Tata told him he will give him space at the iconic Taj Mahal Palace to display his art. For two and a half months thereafter, Mr. Mohite worked day and night to create 19 paintings. He showcased them from September 24 to October 2 in 2022. He also sold a few paintings after that.
But the most memorable moments for Mr. Mohite were when Mr. Tata autographed three of his paintings. One of them was a eulogy to the Tata Group, showing Mr. Tata’s patriotism, expressing how the company soared globally under his leadership. From Jamshed Tata to JRD Tata to Ratan Tata, the painting showcased the icons of the Tata Group.
He hasn’t sold any of them, and says they are his personal treasure. Mr. Mohite shares the videos of him explaining his paintings to Mr. Tata, as the business icon is seen sitting in his chair by the beachside balcony of his bungalow. From now on, these memories are all that he will carry with him.
Published – October 10, 2024 10:00 pm IST