Ratan Tata Awarded Knight Grand Cross By British Government

Ratan Tata, Chairman emeritus of Tata Group, was awarded the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) on Monday.

The GBE is one of the highest civilian awards of Britain and was awarded to the former Tata Group chairman in recognition of his contribution towards UK/India relations, inward investment to the UK and philanthropy," according to a statement released by the British High Commission here.

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Ratan Tata is the first Indian to be awarded the GBE after India became a republic in 1950. He was earlier conferred the honorary award of Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE), in 2009.

The GBE was conferred by the British High Commissioner James Bevan on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II at a ceremony.

"Ratan Tata's leadership, vision and integrity will remain the gold standard for generations of aspirational British and Indian business people," said Bevan. "His contribution to the deep ties that exist between the UK and India has been invaluable," Bevan added.

Ratan Tata is a member of the UK-India CEO Forum and the British Prime Minister's Business Advisory Group. The Tata Group has a major presence in the UK and is in fact the largest manufacturing employer in the UK, manufacturing everything from humble salt and tea to high-value Jaguar and Land Rover cars.

Tata Motors is credited with saving the sinking ship that was Jaguar Land Rover, and bringing it back to profitability.

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