Paytm Chief Executive Officer Vijay Shekhar Sharma is being slammed online for his tribute to Ratan Tata, leading him to delete the post. Mr Sharma’s post was intended to honour the industrialist who died at 86 on Wednesday. However, it was met with criticism amidst an outpouring of tributes from leading figures, including Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal, People Group CEO Anupam Mittal, former Xiaomi CEO Manu Kumar Jain and former BharatPe CEO Ashneer Grover. The Paytm CEO faced backlash for a particular comment, prompting him to remove his post on X (formerly Twitter). 

Many tributes were well-received by social media users, but Mr Sharma’s post did not resonate positively on the internet. A screenshot of his deleted tribute, shared by user Shivam Sourav Jha, has since gone viral on the microblogging site. In his message, Mr Sharma stated, “A legend who will inspire every generation. Entrepreneurs of the next generation will miss interacting with the most humble businessman of India.”

However, the last line of his post drew considerable criticism, with many users expressing their disapproval. The particular phrase was seen by many as inappropriate and disrespectful. 

Reacting to Mr Sharma’s now-deleted post, one user wrote, “In very bad taste. No need to mock like this @vijayshekhar”. “Last line not appropriate…We loss an Incredible Person Ratan Sir .. departed soul rest in peace,” commented another. 

“The line below should not have been written like this, I did not like it,” expressed a third user. “I guess the intention is not wrong but the timing is wrong and not any one in our country will tolerate such post for a legend and a gentleman like tata sir who has made every Indian proud,” added another. 

Meanwhile, after removing the original post, Mr Sharma issued a revised statement. “RNT for me was the most humbling business leader of India. Future generations of business leaders will miss his generous interactions and kindness. Salutes Sir. You will live in our hearts forever,” he tweeted. 

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Ratan Tata died at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital on Wednesday at the age of 86. His death marks the end of an era in Indian business, where a man reshaped the country’s industrial landscape and catapulted his family-owned conglomerate into a global powerhouse.

His death has drawn an outpouring of grief and tributes from across the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered Mr Tata as a visionary business leader and a compassionate soul. Business leaders Gautam Adani, Anand Mahindra, and Sundar Pichai also shared their condolences.

Ratan Tata died at the age of 86 in Mumbai on Wednesday. The industrialist was recognised for his integrity, ethical leadership and commitment to philanthropy, making him an iconic figure both in India and internationally. Following his demise, several people whose lives he impacted in large and small ways paid tribute to the industrialist. Among them was Congress politician Gurdeep Singh Sappal, who shared a poignant memory of his meeting with the business tycoon. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Mr Sappal recounted a visit to Mr Tata’s home in Colaba, Mumbai. 

In his post, Mr Sappal recalled that in 2015, Ahmed Patel, the former veteran Congress leader, asked him to arrange a meeting with Mr Tata. “It was decided that both will meet at Ratan Tata’s Colaba residence in Mumbai. Accordingly, Ahmed Patel ji and I reached his house as per schedule, a house with seemingly middle-class furnishings! Mr Sappal wrote. 

Take a look at the post below: 

Some memories stay forever. Memory of one such meeting with Ratan Tata is etched in my mind.

It was in 2015. Ahmed Patel ji asked me to schedule an appointment with him. It was decided that both will meet at Ratan Tata’s Colaba residence in Mumbai.

Accordingly, Ahmed Patel ji… pic.twitter.com/Pty2AUzukv

— Gurdeep Singh Sappal (@gurdeepsappal) October 9, 2024

Mr Sappal said that he observed initial awkwardness between the two men, revealing they had never met personally before. He claimed that he was surprised to see the two men had never met before. “I was aghast to know that it was their first ever personal meeting! One was the amongst the top corporates of India and the other was one of the most powerful persons during UPA years! Yet they hadn’t met!” he wrote.

“This was unimaginable! But it explained the personalities of Ratan Tata and Ahmed Patel, both. Ratan Tata wasn’t a supplicant to political power and Ahmed Patel never used his power to force the top corporate to meet him! Such was the political decency of that era. My tributes to both of them, the two great Indians!” Mr Sappal posted. 

Also Read | Silicon Valley Exec Remembers Ratan Tata, Says He “Wouldn’t Be Here Without Him”

Several other social media users have also shared stories of their encounters with Ratan Tata in the hours after his death. A Silicon Valley executive paid a heartfelt tribute to the business tycoon, saying he “wouldn’t be here” had it not been for the billionaire. Taking to X, Arnav Sahu, a Principal at Y Combinator, said that Ratan Tata’s scholarship programme allowed him to study in the US and build a career in the land of opportunity. 

Notably, Mr Sahu is one of the students who benefited from Ratan Tata’s scholarship scheme which helped him pursue higher education at Cornell University – an Ivy League college in New York. 

Ratan Tata died at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital late last night at the age of 86. His death marks the end of an era in Indian business, where a man reshaped the country’s industrial landscape and catapulted his family-owned conglomerate into a global powerhouse.