"This is the first time that… members have been appointed” to the advisory council of Bombay University, announced the Hindustan Times (HT) of February 26, 2020, reporting on the appointment of chairman emeritus of Tata Sons and chairman of Tata Trusts Ratan Tata to the chairmanship of the council. The Maharashtra State Public Universities Act had first proposed the setting up of such a body four years ago. Quoting from a statement released by the University, HT stated that the council will generate reports and action plans in academic(s), research and development, administration, generation of financial resources "so as to make the University academically vibrant, administratively efficient and financially a strong system.” The news report stated that Tata has "sent a letter accepting the post,” though there has been no announcement from the industrialist’s office.
Veteran scientist Anil Kakodkar and additional chief secretary of Maharashtra Sujata Saunk will be part of the council, with University vice chancellor Prof Suhas Pednekar and pro vice chancellor Prof Ravindra Kulkarni holding ex-officio posts. "An educationist and a social leader are yet to be nominated,” stated The Times of India, February 26.
Ratan Tata (l) being conferred an honorary degree of
While conferring Tata with an honorary degree of enterprise, vice president and chancellor of The University of Manchester Prof Dame Nancy Rothwell noted, "He is an example to big business, small enterprise, to researchers and developers, those who give and those who can give more. We believe that he will be an example to our students as they grow to become global citizens.” The award took place at a ceremony in Bombay on February 14 during Rothwell’s visit to the country. "Ratan is inspirational. For him, philanthropy and innovation are spokes of the same wheel, each leading towards the improvement of lives which is the very same ethos we share at The University of Manchester,” Rothwell was quoted in a press release posted on their website.
Lauding the growth of the Tata Group’s businesses under Tata’s leadership and the philanthropic activities of the Trusts, Rothwell enumerated the causes that Tata has championed — nutrition, sanitation, cancer care, rural poverty alleviation and social entrepreneurship. "It is this sense of social responsibility and philanthropy that links Ratan to The University of Manchester as the University also shares these values,” stated the press release.
Reporting on the award, indiatoday.in enumerated Tata’s previous honorary doctorates: in laws from York University, Canada 2014; automotive engineering from Clemson University, USA, 2015; engineering from Swansea University, UK in 2015; from Amity University, in 2019.