Ratan Tata honoured with Assam’s highest civilian award

Guwahati: Assam chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma conferred the “Assam Baibhav”, the state’s highest civilian award, on veteran businessman and Tata Trust Chairman Ratan Tata at a function held in Taj Wellington Mews in Mumbai.

Ratan Tata, who is the chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, has been given the award for his “exceptional contribution towards furthering cancer care in Assam”.

The “Assam Baibhav” Award” carries a citation, a medal and a cash amount of Rs 5 lakh.

It may be noted that due to personal reasons, Ratan Tata couldn’t attend the official award ceremony held in Srimanta Sankaradev Kalakshetra, Guwahati on January 24, where Governor Jagdish Mukhi conferred the state’s three highest civilian awards to 18 other distinguished personalities in different fields. 

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The Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma then visited Mumbai to present the award to Ratan Tata himself. “Had the privilege to honour @tatatrusts Chairman Shri Ratan Naval Tata with ‘Assam Baibhav’, our State’s highest civilian award,at Mumbai today. The visionary industrialist & philanthropist has made exceptional contribution towards furthering cancer care in Assam,” Sarma posted on Twitter.

Earlier, Ratan Tata had written a letter to the Assam chief minister where he mentioned how he was touched by the decision of the government to honour him with the Assam Baibhav award. “I greatly appreciate and am deeply touched by the decision of the Government of Assam to bestow on me the Assam Baibhav award for the year 2021,” he wrote.

The legendary industrialist also wrote that he is an admirer of the CM and how he is committed to the wellbeing of the Assamese people. “I have been an admirer of your personal commitment to the wellbeing of the Assamese people and it is, therefore, an exceptional honour to receive this award from you. Thank you for understanding my inability to personally receive the award at the function to be held in Guwahati on January 24th and for your willingness to present it to me at a later date in Mumbai,” he wrote.