Harish Bhat delivered the XLRI JRD Tata Oration on ‘The Legacy of Ratan Tata’ at XLRI Jamshedpur on November 22, 2024
XLRI – Xavier School of Management conducted 32nd JRD Tata Oration on Business Ethics on November 22, 2024 at Tata Auditorium, XLRI Jamshedpur Campus. This year the oration was delivered by Mr. Harish Bhat – Advisor and Director at the Tata Group on the topic “Doing the Right Thing – The Legacy of Ratan Tata.”
Mr. TV Narendran, Chairman, XLRI; Mr. Harish Bhat, Advisor and Director at the Tata Group; Fr. S George S.J., Director, XLRI; Dr. Sanjay Patro, Dean (Academics), XLRI and Fr. Kuruvilla Pandikattu, S.J., Chairperson of JRD Tata Centre for Business Ethics lit the lamp and started the event.
Fr. Kuruvilla Pandikattu, S.J., Chairperson of JRD Tata Centre for Business Ethics said, “Established in 1991, XLRI’s JRD Tata Ethics Oration was to mark its long-standing commitment and contribution to business ethics in India. Part of this initiative is the JRD Tata Foundation and Chair for Business Ethics at XLRI for the advancement of research and commitment in managerial ethics, the only B-School in India that has a dedicated Chair for Business Ethics named after a celebrated industrialist, J.R.D. Tata.” He also briefed the attendees about the activities of the JRD Tata Centre for Business Ethics.
Mr. Harish Bhat, Advisor and Director at the Tata Group delivered the oration on Business Ethics. He said, “It gives me great pleasure to stand here today and deliver the 32nd JRD Tata Oration on Business Ethics. It is equally a privilege to be speaking at one of the finest business schools of the country. Ethics and ethical conduct both are the essential building block of a civilized society. Today I would like to focus on one such person who has inspired millions of people of India – Mr. Ratan Tata. One defining feature that Indians associate with him is, his genuine desire to do the right thing both in his career and life. Therefore, today’s topic is Doing the right thing – The legacy of Ratan Tata.”
Mr. Bhat emphasized Ratan Tata’s views on what doing the right thing means. The first aspect is being ethical in the conduct of business. The second is being morally correct, not just legally compliant. The third is being fair to all stakeholders in business, rather than focusing solely on the company’s revenues. The fourth is showing care and compassion for people, going out of the way to ensure adequate care and comfort for those in need. “Doing the right thing, according to Ratan Tata, goes beyond all of this. It includes treating people with respect and dignity, which is a fundamental tenet of his behaviour. Meeting every commitment he made was another key aspect. Foremost in his mind was always putting the nation, India, above everything else.”, he added.
Prof. Sanjay Patro, Dean Academics, XLRI proposed the vote of thanks and concluded the event.
Activities of the XLRI JRD Tata Centre for Business Ethics:
XLRI continues to prioritize ethics as a cornerstone of its academic and professional initiatives. The regular course in Managerial Ethics is offered to first-year students of GMP, HRM, and BM, supplemented by workshops and MDPs in collaboration with Tata Steel to enhance ethical cultures in organizations. Plans are underway for more In-Company Programs (ICPs) and Management Development Programmes. XLRI has also made significant strides in promoting ethics through activities like the All India Essay and Poster Competitions, which drew over 182 entries last year, and contributions to publications such as Outlook Magazine and the Tata Company Newsletter. A three-day International Conference on “Respect in Business and Leadership,” scheduled for January 2025 in partnership with seven foreign universities, will mark the inauguration of EthicoSphere, a jubilee initiative of the XLRI-JRD Tata Foundation for Business Ethics. The students’ PEACE committee is actively contributing to the conference, following the success of the February 2024 conference, which featured over 160 participants, including 9 international contributors, and led to 64 papers being published or under review.
Collaborations with institutions like Loyola College Chennai, Serampore College Kolkata, and Michigan State University have further expanded XLRI’s influence in ethics education and dialogue. Highlights include workshops on ethics, participation in national seminars, and cross-cultural dialogues on diversity and inclusion. Students from GMP excelled in ethics and sustainability case competitions, winning awards at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Research efforts in applied and business ethics have culminated in the publication of four books, with ongoing initiatives to contribute meaningfully to this critical field. These activities underscore XLRI’s commitment to fostering a culture of trust, responsibility, and ethical leadership in the global business landscape.